Introduction
Welcome to this ultimate guide to magnet fishing! This guide will give you the information you need to know all about this enjoyable hobby, how to get started, where the best places are to magnet fish, and other useful information.
What Is Magnet Fishing?
Magnet fishing is a fun sport growing in popularity all around the world! You’ll see Watersport Enthusiasts, Treasure Hunters, and Parents with energetic Kids sharing the same passion: getting out to the water and reeling in some trophies. What do you need to do it? Well inside of a magnet fishing kit is a powerful neodymium magnet (a rare. Neosmuk Fishing Magnets, 500+LBS 63.8mm 2.5 Inches Fishing Magnets Neodymium Rare Earth Magnet with Lifting Eye-Bolt Ideal for Retrieving Items in.
Similar to metal detecting where objects are found on land using a metal detector, magnet fishing is about finding metal objects in bodies of water using strong magnets. Have you always imagined what could be at the bottom of a lake near where you live? There have been interesting finds by people who have been curious enough to tie a magnet at the end of a rope to answer this – many of them were very surprised with what they have found.
Magnet fishing is indeed an interesting and inexpensive outdoor hobby that anyone can do, and it gives the outdoor enthusiast a chance to interact with their environment in a very unique way. Imagine experiencing the thrill of the hunt of what you will find next, the excitement of pulling some metal treasure out of the water, and being able to easily and quickly see what’s ‘below the surface’ when you come across an interesting water spot that you think may be keeping something special.
Magnet Fishing Setup – Getting Started
For your magnet fishing gear and setup, you will need a few things. Similar to fish angling where you have the hook, line, and sinker, with magnet fishing you will need a strong magnet as your hook and sinker, and a rope as your line that ties to the magnet. Where you magnet fish is important to increase the chances of finding metal, and there is also a large element of patience and curiosity needed. Unlike fish angling, magnet fishing provides quicker results in catching anything; you quickly get to know if there’s any metal lurking beneath the surface and be able to reel it in when you feel the magnet cling heavily on to something.
Magnet Fishing Magnets
You need a very strong magnet for magnet fishing. It is best to get the strongest magnet you can carry and tie securely to a rope. Keep in mind that the magnet’s pull force will be at its maximum when the metal object is fully flat against it. During magnet fishing however, a flat contact would be difficult to achieve as objects that have been sitting at the bottom of a lake for a long time tend to accumulate debris (soil, vegetation, rust, algae etc.), and the metal object itself may not be flat – this is why getting a much stronger magnet is advisable to compensate for these irregularities. Remember also that the bigger finds will need a stronger magnet to be pulled out of their longtime resting place, dragged through, and out of the water.
Best Magnets For Magnet Fishing
The best magnet to use for magnet fishing is a neodymium magnet as their relatively compact size can have a huge pull force. Neodymium magnets are rare-earth magnets and are considered to be one of the strongest magnets available. As a note of caution, please be very careful when handling these magnets as they are very strong and can cause injury, and can damage electronics. Never attempt to put two of these magnets together as they can shatter from the force.
Below is a neodymium N52 magnet that weighs under 2lbs but has a pull force of 500lbs. This one is made to have a countersunk screw fastened to it which makes it easy to attach an eyebolt to securely tie the line. Be sure to use loctite so the eyebolt doesn’t unscrew.
Here’s a really cool video showing this magnet in action (must watch):
Best Rope For Magnet Fishing
In addition to a strong magnet, you will need a good rope as your line. We recommend to get a rope that is at least 50ft in length which would be long enough for shallow water and for fishing in most places. If you know for sure that where you want to fish is very deep, or you want to be able to cast your line far from the water’s edge, then you can use a 100ft rope. When fishing from bridges, then definitely use a 100ft rope.
We highly recommend using a good nylon paracord because of its strength, durability, elasticity, high abrasion resistance, and its ability to hold a knot very well; all these are important given the conditions that you may be fishing in where the water could be murky and the magnet becomes snagged on to something which would take some strong yanking of the rope to un-snag it. Its elasticity gives it slack, and since the paracord rope is light and thin, the pulling feedback you get when feeling the rope is a lot more sensitive; you will know when the magnet has caught something.
Be aware that not all paracords are equal as there are different grades of strength depending on how it’s made. Below is a nylon paracord, and it’s 50 feet in length. This one is 4mm, type 3, and has 7 braided core yarns that enables it to have a minimum strength of 550lbs making it a perfect compliment to the 500lbs magnet.
Magnet Fishing Supplies And Other Equipment
Like any outdoor activity, make sure you take along with you suitable gear to make the most of the experience. At minimum, bring a bucket to carry your finds, a brush to get rid of debris, and wear tough gloves to avoid injury when pulling the rope, and handling sharp and rusted metal. Bring along a small plastic container for storing small items like fishing hooks and lures, nails, and other metal bits. You can add a grappling hook to your gear which will become handy when retrieving heavy items.
Look after yourself by wearing a hat, sunglasses, and sun block. Wearing insect repellent is very important as mosquitoes breed and inhabit water areas and their surrounds. You can choose to wear waterproof waders and gumboots depending on the area, such as swamps and wetlands.
Strong Knots To Use For Magnet Fishing
The best knot to use for magnet fishing is one where it tightens on itself, providing a secure hold on the magnet. Also, the knot needs to be one that is able to bear heavy weight. If you are a fish angler and have a favorite knot, then try using it for your magnet. For first-timers, we recommend the trusty Palomar as your magnet fishing knot as it is very simple to tie and is considered by many to be one of the strongest knots.
Best Places To Magnet Fish
Almost all places have bodies of water such as lakes, rivers, swamps, ponds, creeks, dams, canals, and sewers. You will definitely find metal in urban areas, and in places where people frequently visit, walk along, and is accessible by foot. Even in the countryside and remote parts, try fishing in less visited areas which may yield interesting metal finds that have been laying undisturbed for a long time. If you happen to spot an old well or drain, then definitely drop your magnet there.
Towns with history are great locations to magnet fish. You can just imagine what sorts of metal treasures have been long discarded from times of industrial development, gold rush, nearby disused munition factories and mines, and areas that were once battlefronts of war. Take the time to visit old towns and drop your magnet to see if you can find a piece of its history. Who knows, your finds may even contribute to the local museum.
Magnet Fishing Finds – What People Have Found
People have found all sorts of items when magnet fishing. If you’re one of the lucky ones (and there are many lucky magnet fishers) then you may have found anything from bullets, unexploded bombs, swords, hand guns to machine guns. Weapons aside, you may find road signs, shovels, tools, nails, fishing hooks, ball bearings, anchors, propellers, and other unique objects.To improve your chances, go fishing in places most likely to yield metal treasure; places of interest, places with a rich history, and places where battles once took place. Fishing in World War 2 sites will yield items used during this period.Below is part of the Basingstoke Canal UK where a six year-old girl and her parents reeled in 6,000 bullets. This area of the canal is located near Pirbright Army Training Centre.Is Magnet Fishing Legal?
When it comes to magnet fishing laws, the rules will vary depending on the country and state laws, and it is best to consult with the local government body if you are unsure. Different people will have different views as to whether magnet fishing is legal or illegal. However, you can choose to view magnet fishing as an environmentally friendly activity where it helps to clean the waterways of scrap.
Magnet fishing itself is not explicitly unlawful in most places, however littering and unrestricted dumping is. When discovering new places, be mindful of private property and ensure that all rubbish is disposed of thoughtfully, and never throw your finds back into the water. If you haul in guns and explosive devices, be sure to contact the local authorities as possessing these without permits is illegal, and are a dangerous threat to people’s safety if the weapons are still live, for example an un-exploded bomb; these items will need to be reported to the police so that they can be detonated safely.
Magnet Fishing Safety
The most important factor is yours and other people’s safety. Be considerate and always use common sense, and don’t magnet fish where signs indicate that no fishing is allowed.
If you’re fishing from a pier or bridge, ensure the magnet does not come close to any metal beams or poles as it will attach itself to them.
Remember to always be aware of your surroundings and be careful where you throw your magnet and line, as you wouldn’t want the magnet to attach itself to a moving watercraft or propeller.
Fishing Magnets Amazon
So be a safe and environmentally conscious magnet fisher, and you can be proud that you’ve helped in some way to make a positive impact on the environment, while still enjoying this hobby and the outdoors.
Patience
Magnet fishing is suited for people who are curious, enjoy the outdoors, and who are patient. You can be a type of explorer, adventurer, and a big game hunter as your main interest, but the simplicity of just dropping a magnet and reeling it in after you sense the ‘magnetic clunk’ creates the excitement and anticipation of what will be brought to the surface. This excitement will never get old as you explore new places to fish, or quickly stop to drop your magnet when you stumble upon an interesting place. You can spend as little or as much time as you want on this hobby. Remember, you’re only one cast away from finding your next metal treasure.
Conclusion
Magnet fishing is indeed a fun hobby that can be enjoyed by everyone. It’s easy to get started and simple to set up, inexpensive, and provides hours of outdoor enjoyment. You can never get tired of exploring different places to magnet fish, and you can find interesting artifacts from history depending on the places that you choose. Lastly, make sure to always put safety first, and try taking along someone to share the experience with.Magnet Fishing: In The News
Magnet Fishing in Wisconsin – “they decided to give it one more toss…” – Spectrum News
This is a complete guide on how to begin fishing for sunken treasures in the murky depths near you! We will look at everything you will need or may require in your magnet fishing adventures to come.
We will take a closer look at the best magnet fishing kit and the proper rope to get, as well as some tips and tricks and potential treasure locations near you.
Have you ever wondered what lies beneath the murky depths, imagined what treasures that might be found under the surface?
Well, instead of a lure you tie in a powerful Neodymium Fishing Magnet onto a rope and throw it into a body of water hoping to pull out a metallic ferromagnetic object. Most often folk hope for a valuable or rare item, a treasure you might say. Most often, though, are smaller objects from past times found such as coins, jewelry, nails, bullets, or some other not so valuable yet very exciting junk. You will also often come across bigger items that would require a larger Fishing Magnet like bikes, weapons, electric scooters, shopping carts and even safes.
Neodymium Magnet Fishing is a mix of environmentalism and an adventurous search for treasures and rare objects. It has been a huge deal in Europe for a couple of years and is now gaining traction in America, where many exciting treasures lie waiting to be found.
Fishing Magnet Videos
All you need to actually get started with this inexpensive and thrilling hobby is a Magnet Fishing Kit, and there are basically two types to choose from.
A Neodymium fishing magnet with a top mounted eyebolt is best suited for fishing from a bridge, pier, dock, boat.
It is also recommended in urban canals and other places where you stand above and lower it down to the deep water and there is no need to throw it out.
A side mounted, double sided neodymium fishing magnet is best suited when you need to throw it out and pull it back in, dragging it along the seabed.
It is a more versatile choice and best suited for a beginner.
Get Your Magnet Fishing Kit Today
A fishing kit has everything you need to get started!
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A magnet fishing kit that is bought online usually offers you the required parts, a magnet and a rope, that are essential for your treasure hunt. My best recommendation would be a fishing magnet with a pulling strength of about 500 to 1200 pounds to begin with.
A rope is obviously also a must have, but there are other quite important accessories as well. Some or all of these items may be included in the magnet fishing kit, the best ones have everything you could possibly need for your setup and then some.
It is not by far necessary to get these all-in-one packs though. As long as you get a fishing magnet and a good rope or paracord then the rest of the items could easily be assembled at home.
When preparing your magnet fishing kit it is best to put some loctite glue on the treads of the bolt before screwing on the eyebolt. This is done to ensure that it does not come of after some use. If you choose not to, make sure eyebolt is tightened between every couple of throws.
It is recommended and often included a pair of gloves to use while pulling, to avoid burning or blistering your hands on the rope, and avoid cutting yourself on sharp and rusty objects. When pulling up heavy objects whether that be a safe or a snagged branch, gloves will always come in handy.
Other stuff that are useful to have are a plastic bucket to collect your smaller finds, such as nails, fishing hooks, coins, keys, etc. You might also find a need for a wire-brush to get some of the rust off.
A Magnet Fishing Grappling Hook Might Be A Good Tip
If you are having trouble getting your catch out of the water using only a fishing magnet, a grappling hook could be used for the last stretch of the way. The best and largest magnet fishing kits some times include this but it is usually not necessary. You could always leave your find in the water and come back for it at a later time, with more tools at your disposal than just your fishing magnet.
A starter kit will have you out by the water in no time. It is as easy as it is affordable. Get yours today!
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For fishing you need incredibly strong magnets compared to their small size. The ones that are universally accepted as the obvious choice for fishing, are rare-earth neodymium magnets. They have a huge pull-force against metallic-ferrous objects.
For the best results in magnet fishing, strength between 300 to about 3000 pounds of pulling force is recommended. That is between 140 to about 1400 kilos for all the European readers.
It might seem like A LOT. But what you have to realize is how they measure these values. For that much pulling-force to be engaged, the ferrous object have to be completely flat, 1 cm thick, and cover the whole magnetic surface of the fishing magnet.
Anywhere between a 300 to 3000 pound magnet is best for magnet fishing in most cases. My personal magnet fishing tip would be to get a 800 pound double sided magnet for your first purchase as it is both powerful and versatile.
Is it not a bit overkill getting a fishing magnet that strong?
No, because you will practically never meet the perfect conditions mentioned above when you are magnet fishing, thus never using the maximum amount of pulling force available. Very few objects, like bikes or scrap-metal, are completely flat to begin with, and rust is almost always covering them as “padding” between the item and the magnet. Therefore you will most often only get a fraction of its potential pulling-force, and that is why you have to compensate upwards and get a fishing magnet that seems a tad too powerful.
There are some different brands of fishing magnets out there, like Brute Magnetics, King Kong, Wukong Magnets, King Kong Magnetics, Muscular Magnetics, all offering their products at Amazon. but the best thing is that it really doesn’t matter what you get. A magnet is just a magnet as long as the seller is trustworthy. Therefore the best tip i can give you is to pay as little as possible for your fishing magnet as long as the reviews are good.
With a strong magnet you need a strong rope that is both durable, water-resistant, and can withstand both abrasion and cutting, against sharp rocks and objects. I would say that a nylon paracord between 50 ft and 100 ft is needed depending on the location you want to go fishing.
My best magnet fishing tips would be to get two 75 ft paracords that you can tie together if the need would arise. If so, you are prepared for every condition you will face. Whether that be throwing a double sided fishing magnet in a shallow river or dropping it down from the top of a pier.
Do not miss though that there are different nylon paracords that vary in strength. Make sure to get a paracord grade high enough to at least matches the force your magnet is able to pull. And make sure you use a proper Palomar knot securing the magnet to the rope.
The Best Spot To Go Magnet Fishing - Location Tips
When looking for a good magnet fishing spot you might want to consider how many people that pass by on a daily basis. A good revenue of people often result in a lot of lost coins, jewelry, wallets, watches as well of a lot of littering. But the amount of people that pass by can also have been in the past. So any place with a history of industry or war is usually also a good spot to find antique objects and collectibles.
Here is a quick list of places to look for. If you want even more tips for your magnet fishing adventures check this in-depth article including a treasure map of potential sites of war where history might have buried it’s past.
Urban rivers is probably the best of my magnet fishing tips for finding a lot of stuff quickly. Just be aware that a lot of people passing by results in substantial amounts of junk too.
Anywhere that is abandoned there have usually been a lot of thrashing and thrown away stuff too. You can often find large metallic objects that has been dropped by mistake or thrown in after the place became abandoned.
When people are throwing stuff away illegally or hide stuff they don’t want it to be found. So, where do they hide it? Under a bridge of course. There is a reason there are folktales of trolls under bridges to keep folk from looking for their hidden treasures.
Old wells can be a real treasure trove. It was often used as wishing wells back in the days and can have accumulated an old fortune in coins. It is similar to fishing ponds today, many people throw in a coin or other small valuable for luck.
Many people use these places to transfer between a boat and main land, or just stand very close to the edge fishing or enjoying the view. That being said you can imaging all the things dropped or lost in the water beneath. Not to mention all the fishing lures you will find.
Any where with a long history of prosperity or war you can find a lot of interesting old artifacts. My best tips would be to check out this map of old war locations. Perhaps you will find some thrilling object from past times.
Besides the exciting thrill of the adventure or the anticipation of the next possible treasure spot you have come up with, there are some other matters to keep in mind.
As an environmental hobby there are some ethics to live by. Anything you you pull from the waters, are not to be thrown back in. These metal objects do not belong in the water and can contaminate it over time and disrupt the ecosystem.
Harbor Freight Magnets
Please, try and bring with you some form of storage that you can use to bring your magnet fishing finds with you and dispose of them in a recycling station.
Stay Safe When Looking For Your Next Magnet Fishing Finds
When magnet fishing it is important to respect the rules of the land and people around you. It is not always allowed to fish and and that includes magnet fishing.
Be careful about where you throw your magnet. If you have a strong magnet you do not want it to get stuck on a metal beam or something similar where it will be difficult to get it to detach itself from. Also do not keep it near any electronic devices, like a phone or computer as it might demagnetize the hard drive and damage it.
If any items, such as weapons or obviously stolen goods are found, you should contact the police as a general rule. You should look up the local law on this yourself to make sure you do right by yourself and don’t get in trouble.
Fishing Magnetic
The short answer is that it both is and isn’t. It depends on where you are in the world. What is true for practically everywhere is that magnet fishing is a grey-zone because there are often no direct laws on this wonderful outdoor hobby of ours.
If you want to know more about the magnet fishing laws where you live you can get a deeper dive into the matter in this article right here.
One of many magnet fishing tips is that someone’s junk is another mans treasure. And that is true for a multitude of reasons. Junk can be very interesting on its own, in telling the story of a place. And with time, a lot of items gain value and become collectibles that are deeply treasured by some.
Magnet Fishing Kit
Some of the more valuable or dangerous finds when magnet fishing was even reported in the papers and on the news. Like this boy who found an unexploded World War Two bomb. But grenades and weapons along with safes full of gems.