Fishing is not exclusive to catching bass. It can also include getting treasures from bodies of water. While others are reeling in rare blue marlins and crabs, some anglers are literally hauling up some trophies from the bottom of a lake. Get more information about the method of angling on this site here.
Other varieties are slow pitch jigging, bow fishing, and even Catfish noodling. You might find it strange, but others want to take home some real treasures for dinner instead of the usual exotic fish.
However, where do you get started when it comes to fishing magnets, and why is magnet fishing becoming a trendy hobby? Let’s look more at the latest hobby here.
What is a fishing magnet?
Fishing magnets are exactly what it sounds like. You use magnets to find something from the bottom of a body of water.
Begin by tying a rope to your boat, throwing the rope with a magnet on it into the water, and, if you get lucky, haul some great treasure home. Maybe you’ll uncover a valuable thing from within the water, such as gold!
You might have experienced dropping your keys down a drainage system as you’re getting out of your vehicle, or you’ve lost your favorite tool while you’re out there angling. If this is the case, know that these are the scenarios that started the process of magnet fishing. It became a full-fledged hobby for some people because it’s eco-friendly, and treasure hunting is exhilarating.
Part of the appeal of this is it’s something good for the planet. Essentially, you’re removing tons of junk with the help of a 3,600 lb magnet, and you’ll be able to make your local lakes a safer place to swim in.
People are also enjoying the thrill as they don’t hurt any fish in the process. And there’s always the possibility of constantly finding a sunken treasure.
What can you catch?
As you might have imagined, there are many things that you might unexpectedly find. There are tools, signposts, bicycles, old boots, nuts, bolts, and even jewelry.
Other options are safes, and you can be surprised how many people are finding these old things. Thieves from long ago have probably dumped these safes after a robbery, and other lodestones are so lucky enough to find an actual chest from sunken boats.
Another holy grail that you may find is guns. You might not think about them often, but lots are showing up because most firearms were dumped in canals and rivers after World War II.
Revolvers are still even functional, even if they are old. However, it’s best to call the police if you find a modern weapon, for your safety and others.
What gear to bring with you?
If you feel that this hobby is something you would like to try, the best thing about them is that you don’t need a lot of equipment to get started with the process. You might want to get an entry-level neodymium magnet to get a feel for this sport. For $50, it’s something that you can try and potentially love.
Fishing magnets
The first thing to put on your list is a big magnet. Technically, you might want the neodymium material as it’s so helpful in scanning the bottom of lakes, seas, and rivers.
Choose between two-sided and one-sided varieties. The two-sided variety is convenient when you want to check the bottom of the ocean as some things tend to stick to both of its sides.
One-sided neodymium varieties have a firmer latch. They are the ones who do most of the heavy lifting, and this is the way to start if you’re a beginner.
This way, you can branch out whenever you want to because you’ve already used the basics. Read more about neodymium at this link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/neodymium.
Fishing magnets may come in various strengths that range from 200 to 1000 pounds, and these are all pulling forces. The minimum that’s recommended by expert fishers is usually 500 pounds. If you think this is heavy, it’s best to remember that this is the measurement under an ideal condition where a flat sheet of steel is attached.
Ropes
After you’ve chosen the ideal magnet, the next thing to do is get a durable rope with the right length. The most common materials used are nylon because it doesn’t rot and is synthetic.
Some are dry-treated, so they don’t absorb a lot of water, and they don’t add to the weight when wet. Aside from this, you don’t specifically need the expensive and high-tech stuff. The high-quality climbing ropes are more than enough, but this will also depend on the place where you’re going to fish.
Gloves
The process of magnet fishing will require plenty of manhandling and pulling. That is especially the case with rusty metals, so you must-have gloves.
Again, there’s no need to purchase something expensive for this type of fishing sport. The normal ones are something that you can find at your local hardware shop. You shouldn’t choose the bulky ones, though, as knowing when something sticks on your magnet might be challenging.
Grappling hook
This hook is not part of the essentials, but a grappling hook is certainly handy for more extensive finds. You might also prefer a pole hook to help with the pooling process once the treasure reaches the surface.
Tie off the rope, haul it back in place, and hold the catch in place. A grappling hook is also useful if you find something not made up of solid metal.
Storage of fishing magnets
Understandably, many people find these magnets hard to transport and store. It might get stuck into your garage door or car, and it’s always a fun activity to remove them from where they are stuck without too much damage (sarcasm).
Fortunately, polystyrene is possible to cancel out the magnetic pull. Carry the equipment into a small cooler or plastic tackle box to avoid this from getting stuck.
Top photo credit: Marian.kabele, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons