The Best Magnets for Magnet Fishing
Ever hear of “magnet fishing?” If you haven’t, don’t let the name fool you—it’s not an activity where you cast a hook into the water and try to pull out a magnet!
Nor does it have to do with real fishing, where the goal is to catch seafood (though magnets are certainly useful in the fishing industry, where they can increase safety and efficiency).
Instead, magnet fishing is a rapidly growing pastime that involves throwing a powerful magnet into lakes, rivers, and other bodies of water to see what can be retrieved.
Read our full blog post to learn more!
Table of Contents
Best Magnets For Magnet Fishing
Find Other Fun Activities With Magnets
What Is Magnet Fishing?
As we mentioned earlier, magnet fishing is an activity where someone attaches a magnet to a rope or chain, then drops the magnet into a body of water to see what sort of ferromagnetic objects they can “catch.”
While magnet fishing has been around for decades, it exploded in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic. People were stuck inside and looking for ways to pass the time, and some turned to magnet fishing—a fun, socially distanced way to explore the outdoors.
In some ways, magnet fishing is the underwater equivalent of traditional metal detecting—and it can be just as lucrative. While valuable items like jewelry and bicycles are relatively common discoveries, some magnet fishers occasionally uncover real wealth. In one instance, a couple found a safe with nearly $100,000 stuffed inside it!
Note: While magnet fishing is fun, it can also be dangerous. Some explorers have pulled up guns, grenades, World War II bombs, and other hazardous devices. Always be cautious, and contact the authorities if you believe you’ve found something that could be a threat to you or others. In addition, magnet fishing often involves powerful magnets that can pinch or crush your hands, feet, and other body parts. Consult our magnet safety guide for more information.
The Best Magnets For Magnet Fishing
The best magnet for magnet fishing really depends on your personal goals and how much weight you can stand to pull from the water. In general, though, certain important qualities to look for include:
- Strength - Is the magnet actually strong enough to pull things out of the water? Remember: Keys, jewelry, and old soup cans aren’t the only thing you’ll find. You could uncover old computer towers, record players, car engines, and more! In most cases, you’ll likely want to choose a neodymium magnet, as these provide more strength compared to other options.
- Water Resistance - Your magnet will experience a ton of wear and tear while magnet fishing, and the constant contact with water doesn’t help. Look for a magnet that comes with some sort of casing to help protect it from the elements. Be careful: Even with a casing, certain magnetic materials can corrode or rust with repeated exposure to moisture. Always dry your retrieval magnets with a towel or cloth after use.
- Design - The most convenient magnets for magnet fisting have some sort of hook or eye bolt for attaching a rope or chain.
With all of that in mind, here are two of our favorite magnets for magnet fishing:
Option 1: 200-lb Double-Sided Retrieval Magnet - Neodymium Fishing Magnet
This neodymium fishing magnet has enough pull power to lift 200 pounds straight out of the water. That’s enough force to lift a refrigerator!
This magnet also has some other cool features, including:
- Two removable eye bolts. These eye bolts are convenient for attaching a rope or chain to the magnet.
- Water resistance. The nickel plating helps resist damage from the water over time.
- Size-to-strength ratio. Although this magnet can lift 200 pounds, it’s surprisingly small: about three inches by one inch.
Order the 200-lb Double-Sided Retrieval Magnet today!
Option 2: 600-lb Double-Sided Retrieval Magnet - Neodymium Fishing Magnet
This incredible fishing magnet is small enough to fit in your pocket but strong enough to pick up motorcycles, large appliances, vending machines, and other big, valuable items.
That strength requires serious pulling power, which is why this magnet features two drop-forged eye bolts for attaching ropes and chains.
Order the 600-lb Double-Sided Retrieval Magnet today!
Option 3: 1,000-lb Double-Sided Retrieval Magnet - Neodymium Fishing Magnet
This powerful neodymium fishing magnet can hold up to 1,000 pounds—as much as a small car or large motorcycle!
To take full advantage of the magnet’s pull strength, be sure to bring a similarly strong rope or chain so you can retrieve whatever you catch at the bottom of the water.
Like the other fishing magnet option, this model includes external plating for extra water resistance, and the eye bolt simplifies adding a rope or chain.
Order the 1,000-lb Double-Sided Retrieval Magnet today!
Learn More About Magnets
To learn even more about how to have fun with magnets, check out our blog. There, you’ll find a ton of family-friendly activities and even ideas on how magnets can improve your life around the house.
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If you need additional help or have questions, contact us!
Safety Warning: Magnets can be dangerous. Neodymium magnets, especially, must be handled with care to avoid personal injury and damage to the magnets. Fingers and other body parts can get severely pinched between two attracting magnets. Bones can be broken by larger magnets. Visit our Magnet Safety page to learn more.