Magnet fishing is more like going treasure hunting in the water than it is like actual fishing. In other words, you won’t catch any fish with this method, unless they are made completely of iron or some other strongly magnetic material. Some treasure hunters throw magnets in lakes and other water ways to attract magnetic metals and pull them up. The hope is that something valuable will surface, but often miscellaneous items like bottle caps and keys are found as well. In fact, strong lifting magnets called magnet retrieval tools are specially designed to retrieve items that are lost at the bottom of bodies of water. However, if you simply wanted to try out magnet fishing and are not looking to retrieve larger, heavier items from the water, you can easily create your own magnet fishing tool.

Supplies

Steps

  1. Cut a long strip of your rope, so that you have enough to throw into the water and to hold it firmly, without it getting taut.
  2. Firmly tie an anchor knot inside the eye bolt part of the magnet.
  3. Test its strength by giving it a few test throws in an open area.
  4. Once secure, you are ready to try it out in a lake, pond or other small waterway.

Magnet Fishing Tips

You usually do not want to keep the magnet unmoving in one place in the water. Doing so not only limits your chances of catching anything, but it could cause you to lose your magnet if it hooks onto something so big and heavy that you can’t pull it up. The best technique is to throw the fishing magnet in and pull it back, so that it collects items as it moves. You can also throw it in and walk it in one direction to cover other areas. Also, the type of magnet that you use matters. Neodymium magnets are more powerful, but they will rust and corrode with exposure to water. Purchasing coated magnets or coating magnets to prevent water corrosion will extend the life of a fishing magnet.