What is Magnet Fishing Kit? To know the answer to the question, you need to understand magnet fishing.
How to fish with magnets? Why is it becoming so popular? And what are people trying to find? Today we will answer all the questions you didn’t know about magnetic fishing, magnet fishing kit, and so on. Fair warning, you may be drawn into yourself!
What is magnet fishing?
Magnetic fishing is exactly what it sounds like: fishing with magnets. We know it’s shocking, but really nothing more. You tie a rope to a magnet and throw it into the water. If you’re lucky, it will attach itself to something you can carry around and take home.
Have you ever dropped your keys down the drain while getting out of your car? Have you ever lost your favorite knife on board a boat while fishing? Many people have done just that, and this is probably how magnet fishing began. It has since become a hobby in its own right, part of environmental protection and treasure hunting.
So why do people do it? As we have already mentioned, part of the attraction is sustainability. You can remove a ton of garbage from the water, clean up a local river, or make a lake safer for swimming. You can also enjoy the thrill of fishing without hurting the fish. However, the main advantage is the constant opportunity to find sunken treasures.
What Can I Catch with Magnet Fishing Kit?
As you can imagine, there are an infinite number of things that can be caught with a magnet fishing kit. Everything with iron at your fingertips, from nuts and bolts to road signs, bicycles, tools, and even the classic fishing – an old boot.
One of the most exciting things to find on a magnet is safe. In fact, you’d be surprised how often people find old safes in rivers. Most of the time they are empty, probably abandoned after being robbed. However, from time to time a lucky magnetizer stumbles upon a real treasure chest!
Then there’s the holy grail of mag-fishing: Guns. Many weapons appear in rivers and canals, especially in Europe, which is apparently still inundated with weapons from the Second World War. Revolvers are sometimes in perfect working order, but you should probably call the police if you find a modern weapon – there might be a good reason someone dumped it in a ditch!
Magnet Fishing Kit:
Would you like to try magnetic fishing? One of the big benefits is that you don’t need a lot of equipment to get started. An entry-level magnet fishing kit can cost as little as $50, so this is really something everyone can try.
- Magnet
The first thing you need is a big magnet! From a technical point of view, you will need a neodymium fishing magnet. There are two main types: one-sided and two-sided. Double-sided magnets are useful for bottom scanning because items stick to both sides. Single-sided magnets snap in much tighter, making it easier to lift heavy loads. Our advice? Start with a simple base side, then branch out if you like.
Fishing magnets come in a variety of strengths, from 200 to over 1,000 pounds of pulling force. If that sounds like a lot, keep in mind that it’s measured under ideal conditions when attached to a flat steel sheet. For this reason, most magnetic anglers recommend a minimum of 500 pounds.
- Rope
Do you have a magnet? The next thing you need is a strong rope in your magnet fishing kit. Synthetic materials like nylon work best because they don’t rot. Some nylon strings are also dry-worked so they don’t become heavy when wet. Plus, you don’t need anything high-tech in your magnet fishing kit. A simple good quality climbing rope about 50 feet long will suffice, depending on where you are fishing.
- Gloves
Magnet fishing involves working with a lot of rusty metal, so gloves are almost a must in a magnet fishing kit. Again, nothing expensive is needed in a magnet fishing kit. Regular work gloves, such as those you buy at the hardware store, will do. Don’t take anything too bulky or you won’t be able to feel the magnet when it sticks to something.
- Grappling Hook
Not required in a magnet fishing kit, but helpful. A grappling hook or pole hook is ideal for retrieving large finds as they reach the surface. You can tie a rope to hold the handle in place and then lift it up with a hook. This can also be useful for finds that are not solid metal.
- Magnet storage
Naturally, a super-strong magnet can be difficult to store and transport. Attach it to your car or garage door and you’ll have fun trying to take it off without causing harm. Luckily, a little polystyrene negates much of the magnetic attraction. Carry it in a regular plastic tackle box or in a small fridge for doubly safe.
Magnet Fishing Tips for Beginners
You’ve got your magnet fishing kit and you’ve made your dream list, now it’s time to go there! Magnet fishing is fairly simple, but there are a few useful tricks that can jump-start your iron-hunting adventures.
- Where to Fish
You can find metal in almost any river or pond where there are people. Bridges, canals, and piers are all popular places. They see a lot of pedestrians and boats, so chances are someone has lost their keys, dropped their bait knife, or even crashed their bike in the water. Docks and piers are also great places to look for old fishing lures.
If you want to find really interesting finds, you will have to do a little research. Famous historical sites may have already been cleared by other treasure hunters, but they are still worth it. Old coastal roads and historic ports can also be gold mines. Finally, river mouths and weirs will be littered with things carried downstream.
- A Note on Knots
The most common way to attach a rope to a magnet is to use a knot. Some people use carabiners for the actual link, but there still has to be a knot somewhere. The good news is that you don’t need anything as fancy as fishing knots.
Two of the most popular magnetic fishing knots are the tracker and the Palomar. They are easy to knit with a little practice. More importantly, none of these knots can be untied by pulling on them.
- Getting Unstuck
Getting a magnet to stick to something is a common problem for beginners. It can be a bridge railing, a support column on a pier, or just about any other piece of metal that is fixed in place. In any case, removing the magnet is easy if you are the know-how.
The first thing to do is try to move the magnet to the side. That way you won’t go against all of its traction power. If that doesn’t work, try pulling it from the side with quick, sharp jerks. If all else fails, tie up a few bystanders and try some good old tug of war.
The dangers of magnetic fishing
As you can imagine, pulling pieces of rusty metal from a river comes with some dangers. The most obvious is cutting yourself, so wear gloves for larger finds. Just in case, it is recommended to get a tetanus shot if you haven’t had one recently.
There is another, much more serious danger to be aware of: unexploded bombs. This is a much more common problem in Europe, where World War II explosives still show up regularly. Even in the US, you can find an old grenade lying at the bottom of a river. If you find it, carefully lower it into the water, tie a rope and call the police.
Magnet fishing laws
Sounds fun and all, but is fishing with magnet legal? Well, we wouldn’t be writing about it if it wasn’t, but that doesn’t mean you can do it everywhere.
In the UK it is illegal to magnetize fish in waters managed by the Canal & River Trust, which is the majority. This means that you will probably want to try private property magnet fishing. In the United States, magnet fishing is legal everywhere except South Carolina, where underwater object collection laws prohibit the use of any lifting device other than your hands.
Wherever you are, be sure to check with local authorities before diving into the water. Specific rules may apply for the specific river or pier you are fishing on. The last thing you want to do is bring on a pair of handcuffs!
A whole new way of Magnet fishing
It can be said that magnetic fishing is not actually fishing. How is this possible if you don’t fish? Old pieces of metal may never be as exciting as fish. But if nothing bites and you want to change, why not break the magnets? You can clean up your local river and possibly get some treasure in the process. Talk about win-win!
Conclusion
Magnet fishing is a really fun hobby that anyone can enjoy. It’s easy to get up and simple set up of magnet fishing kit, inexpensive, and provides hours of outdoor fun. You never get tired of exploring different places to attract fish, and you can find interesting artifacts from history depending on the places you choose. Finally, always put safety first and try to bring someone to share your experience with.
