powerful magnet. They also
vary in combined pull force—
or how much weight a magnet
can hold—any where from 500
pounds to more than 2,000.
“Combined” refers to total pull
force: A single-sided, 1,200-
pound magnet has all of its
pull force concentrated on one
side, while a double-sided mag-
net with the same pull force
has 600 on each side (see side-
bar below). The higher the pull
force, the bigger the object you
can reel in. Beginners should
start with a combined pull
force of 500 to 1,200 (anything
over that requires experi-
ence). Before dropping your
new magnet into water, apply
a thread locker, such as Loc-
tite, to the bolts to prevent
them from becoming loose and
your new magnet from break-
ing free.Synthetic Rope
Because you’ll likely
toss your magnet
into moving bod-
ies of water where rocks lurk
beneath, you’ll want a synthetic
rope that’s abrasion-, rot-, and
UV-resistant. Look for one
with a breaking strength that
is greater than the pull force of
the magnet you’re using. Alsoconsider length: If your go-to
spot is off a high bridge, you
might choose a 100-foot rope
over one that’s only 65 feet.
The longer the rope and the
higher its breaking strength,
the heavier it will be, espe-
cially when wet. Most quality
ropes for magnet fishing have
at least one sewn end, which
makes attaching a carabiner
easier (see sidebar at right).
When shopping for a rope, look
for one specifically designed
for magnet fishing and never
choose one smaller than 6mm.
The best place to find a magnet
fishing–specific rope is online.
The climbing ropes found at
sporting goods stores are often
overpriced.Locking Carabiner
While some magnet
fishing purists see the
use of a carabiner to
connect the rope to the mag-
net as a weak point in the
setup, I prefer it to tying the
rope directly to the magnet.
A carabiner provides versatil-
ity; it allows you to easily swap
out different magnets or add
a grappling hook to retrieve
awkward-shaped items like a
bicycle or a shopping cart, orTHE 5 MAGNET
FISHING
ESSENTIALS
Do an online search for magnet
fishing kits, and you’ll find
everything from basic $20 kits
to family kits for up to $200.
My $40 Kratos 550 Classic Kit
includes a 550-pound, single-
sided magnet, a 65-foot 6mm
rope, cut-resistant gloves, and
other accessories ideal for
beginners. Whether you start
with a kit and add to it, or you
buy each piece separately to
build a custom kit, these are the
essentials you’ll need for your
first magnet fishing excursion.Strong
Magnet
To r e e l i n
something
substantial, you need a neo-
dymium magnet, a strong,
permanent rare-earth magnet
made up of neodymium, iron,
and boron. The neodymium
magnets used in magnet fish-
ing are typically graded from
N35 to N52, with the higher
number representing a moreWHAT ARE
THE 4 TYPES
Often called “dipping”
magnets, these
attract treasures
more effectively when
dipped up and down
off the bottom of a
body of water. They’re
ideal for dropping off
of docks, bridges, and
piers in slow-movingsingle-sided magnets
retain an angle that
promotes maximum
pull force (because
their calculated
strength is all on one
side), making them
better for pulling up
heavier objects, like
a safe.DOUBLE-SIDED
/ Best suited for
steep inclines
and fast-moving
water like
steams and
rivers, these
attract objects
on the top
and bottom of
the magnet.Pull force is
calculated by
combining the
strength of
the top and
bottom, so a
1,200-pound
double-sided
magnet has a
pull force of 600
pounds per side.60 May/June 2022
COLINMCSHERRY(ILLUSTRATIONS);^ TREVOR^ RAAB^ (MAGNETS);COURTESYCOURTESYKRATOS(^360)