So you’ve finally made the leap into the world of magnet fishing and you are wondering what’s next? How many magnets do you buy? What size and strength of magnets do you buy? What length of rope or what other magnet fishing accessories should you purchase to begin your magnet fishing expeditions and to give yourself the best opportunity to find some cool items and have fun in a safe environment and equipment.
Below we go through all the basic items you’ll need when building your magnet fishing kit.
Magnet Fishing Magnets
As we’ve discussed in previous articles your selection of magnet will mainly be determined upon the area that you are going to be magnet fishing at and the type of items you are looking to fish for.
For example someone looking for large World War II artifacts will be needing a different size and strength of magnet than someone looking to find small valuable trinkets when magnet fishing.
Where possible (and taking into account any budget constraints) you want to have flexibility in your magnet options where you can go magnet fishing in a variety of locations. Once you have an idea then you can look at the size and type of magnet.
We would recommend one large magnet (preferably a double sized magnet such as the Brute Magnetics 2600 lb Double Sided Fishing Magnet) as well as a smaller magnet (such as the Brute Magnetics 425lb or the 575lb Single Sided Magnet).
Make sure any purchase you make comes with a bottle of Threadlocker and you have spare magnet accessories such as a stainless steel eyebolt and if the area you are looking to magnet fish in can snag your magnet (and assuming you are using a single sided magnet) you can use an anti-snag plastic cover/cone on your magnet.
You might also want to have a protective carry case for your magnets such as the Brute Magnetics Magnet Storage Case.
Magnet Fishing Rope and Carabiner
The other important part of your magnet fishing kit is the rope. Ideally your chosen rope will be very strong, durable and of a sufficient length (ie at least 20 meters/65 feet).
We recommend the Brute Magnetics ropes, 0.40” in either 65 feet or 100 feet in length.
Most ropes come with a strong carabiner (clip/shackle), ideally you want one that is highly rated and tough (i.e above 5,000 pounds).
We suggest you have a spare rope in case you lose your main one, it gets caught on something when you are fishing or if you need additional help in pulling something heavy to the surface. We also recommend you have a carabiner or two spare and always have a spare carabiner with you every time you go magnet fishing.
Magnet Fishing Gloves
High quality gloves are an underrated accessory in your magnet fishing kit. Protection from rope burn or any sharp objects embedded in your rope is necessary for your safety. Ideally these gloves will be lightweight, resistant to tearing and cuts and suitable to grip in wet or slippery conditions.
The gloves we recommend are the Brute Magnetics coated work gloves. These are lightweight high quality HPPE fabric gloves and are a must have accessory for any magnet fishing kit.
We suggest you have a spare pair of gloves in the event that your main pair breaks or rips.
Magnet Fishing Grappling Hook
In a lot of areas you may need some help in pulling up or to latch onto your magnet fishing catch. The best accessory for this is a strong stainless steel grappling hook. The Brute Magnetics grappling hook has 4 saw tooth prongs that are non-slip that gives you a firm hold on objects it hooks into.
The hooks are also foldable which makes it easier to carry and is made of stainless spring steel making the hook less prone to bending or breaking. As with a magnet make sure the grappling hook is attached to a strong, high quality rope.
Alternatively you may wish to use a scoop net to help with your catch.
Solid enclosed footwear
With our safety focus always make sure you have a quality pair of enclosed shoes that are suitable to go fishing with. Depending on the terrain under foot (from a simple concrete/bitumen bridge or jetty to a rocky or even watery terrain underfoot always know the environment you will be magnet fishing at and always wear suitable and safe footwear.
Bucket, bag or container to hold your potential finds
Like with regular fishing you will need something to hold your catch. This could be something as simple as a bucket or you could have something like a knapsack or even something like an empty fishing tackle box with a handle for ease of carrying.
Water and Food
We will always suggest you take a bottle of water on any magnet fishing trip. Depending on your proposed length of magnet fishing you should probably pack some food. This only needs to be something simple such as a piece of fruit or pack of nuts or if you are going to be magnet fishing for a decent amount of time pack a more nourishing amount of food.
First aid kit
Finally an important piece for your magnet fishing kit should be a first aid kit. Now the likelihood of needing this kit (if you are fishing in a relatively safe and stable environment) should be low however we are big believers of safety and safety practises and as the saying goes better to be safe than sorry.
A small quality first aid kit should have among other items gauze/bandages (elastic, adhesive and crepe), adhesive physio tape, antiseptic & antiseptic wipes, disposable gloves, scissors, tweezers, band aids, ice pack, eye wash, ibuprofen/anti-inflammatory.
Alternatively you can purchase a pre-made first aid kit from any reputable health provider or chemist.
Below are some other suggested items (but not necessary items) to enjoy your magnet fishing adventure:
Rubber boots or waterproof footwear
Further to our above section on suitable footwear, your magnet fishing location might be on a rocky surface (such as a groyne or near a bridge) or you may be looking at going into shallow water. If this is the case you might be looking for suitable rubber boots or waterproof footwear. Again this isn’t necessary and is more of a luxury however there are some that may wish to use this type of footwear.
Waterproof clothing/overalls
Again this item isn’t necessary however like regular fishing you may be looking to wade out into the water to get closer to the area you are looking to cast your magnet and may not want to get wet so you can use a pair of waterproof overalls (or at least waterproof up to around waist height.
Cooler/Esky or Vacuum Flask/Thermos
There aren’t too many things more enjoyable after a successful magnet fishing expedition than a cold beverage. An esky is great for this. Alternatively you may wish to bring food such as sandwiches that may taste better when kept cool and a cooler or esky is a great way to keep things cool.
The other extreme to this is if you are going to magnet fish in a colder location and want to have a hot cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate. This is where you want a high quality vacuum flask or thermos to provide you with hot drinks.
Also remember to clean all of your magnet fishing equipment regularly and don’t forget to check for wear and tear.
Hopefully this article gave you some ideas about putting together your magnet fishing kit or at least making some additions to your current kit. Don’t be scared to try different things, different locations, be safe and have some fun on your next magnet fishing adventure.