You have your magnet fishing kit and are ready to go find your hidden treasures.
But, wait….
Are there any other things you should know that could make your experience a better one?
Yes!
There are some very important tips that all magnet fishermen should know whether they are a beginner or experienced.
Let’s take a look at the top 15 Magnet Fishing Tips to ensure that your next trip is a great one.
Top 15 Magnet Fishing Tips
15. Rope Strength Matters
When you go out magnet fishing for the first – or even the tenth – time, you need to make sure that your rope is as secure as possible.
The strongest magnet in the world is no good if your rope is too weak to haul up the items that you’ve found.
Typically, the strength of the line must be double whatever the magnet and its objects will weigh when you pull them up.
For example, if your magnet has a 330-pound limit, you’ll need a magnet of at least 660 pounds – or up to 700 – in weight capacity to ensure that you can lift your items properly. Always go a little bit over your maximum weight limit to avoid breaking.
We promise that few things are more frustrating for magnet fishers than coming up empty handed because their line broke during a lift.
You can find our Top Rope Choices Here.
14. Proper Knotting is Critical
When attaching the rope to your magnet, you need to make sure to choose the most reliable possible knot for the situation.
A typical knot is more likely to slip and loosen on your magnet, which will cause severe frustration.
Most experts suggest that you either make a standard fishing knot or an anchor knot to keep your rope firmly attached to your magnet while you fish.
We suggest the figure 8 follow through knot.
A slip knot is also a good idea because they are typically among the most comfortable knots to tie and adjust.
However, the rope on your magnet may be a little thin for this type of knot, so make sure that you properly research the best knots for this process and practice them before fishing.
Once you’ve mastered an appropriate knot, you’re typically in good shape to start fishing.
13. Fish Near Heavily-Populated Areas
First-time magnet fishers often make the mistake of going to the wild to magnet fish.
While you might find some items in these isolated locations, your chance of finding anything interesting is severely diminished.
Magnet fishers are looking for metal dropped into a lake or river and not fish so should focus their attention on more populated areas.
For example, magnet fishing near common swimming areas is often smart because people may forget to empty their pockets and drop knives, coins, and more when in the water.
Fishing holes – where fishers may lose hooks, sinkers, and other tools – are also a great place to magnet fish. However, underneath a bridge and along busy lakes and street also provides excellent opportunities.
12. Don’t Neglect Your Fishing Gloves
A good magnet fishing experience may last several hours before you find anything of value.
That’s a long time spent swinging and throwing a rope with your hands. Even worse, when you do finally snag onto something of any significant size or value, your hands could be severely rope burned by the time you’ve pulled it out.
Therefore, you need great gloves whenever you’re magnet fishing.
The best gloves will vary depending on a variety of different factors.
Gloves with closed-cell EVA foam and Kevlar coating help to protect your hands the most during magnet fishing. You can also utilize less thick gloves if these feel bulky and hard to use once you’ve got them on your hands.
11. Vary Up Your Fishing Techniques
The most basic magnet fishing technique is the drop and pull.
This method requires you to drop your magnet to the bottom of the lake and pull it directly up after sweeping the area for metal.
Most people use this method because it is effortless to understand and implement. However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t try out other methods.
For example, magnet fish trolling often improves your chances of success by covering a full area.
Make sure that your trolling motor is set as low as possible to avoid dragging the magnet too fast.
You also need to track the lake bottom and adjust your line length to ensure that your magnet or your line don’t get snagged.
10. Magnet Power Also Matters
Fishing magnets come at many different weight levels, from around 200 to 1,200 pounds.
Try to choose a magnetic power level that meets your fishing needs and expectations as much as possible.
Usually, higher-weight magnets let you pull up bigger items, but most fishing magnets are about 330 pounds for a reason: higher power levels don’t always result in better finds.
Simply put, the chances of finding anything in a lake or river that weighs even 300 pounds is meager.
However, you may want higher-powered magnets if you’re looking for more heavy-duty items, such as large pipes or even trying to locate a sunken car. You can’t pull the car out of a lake with your hands, but the magnet can help to find it.
9. Work Slowly As You Fish
The biggest mistake you’re likely to make when you’re magnet fishing is trying to work too fast.
While it is true that you can cover a larger area if you pull your magnet out of the lake quickly, you’re also likely to miss more items if you pull past them before your magnet has the chance to attach. Y
ou could even cause the magnet to get snagged on weeds, rocks, or wood in this way.
Instead, you should pull your line slowly, but surely, out of the lake or river.
Steady pulls, instead of sharp tugs, will keep the bottom of the magnet facing out as you pull and increase your chances of snagging an item.
Most fishing magnets are most magnetic on the bottom and may have limited gripping power on the side.
8. Try the Throw and Pull Method
Although the drop and pull method is beneficial in gathering items from the bottom of a lake, you can also try the throw and pull way to improve your chances of success.
There are two different techniques of this type: the basic form and the throw, pull, and walk. Both involve throwing the magnet out into the water over a long distance and pulling it back towards you.
The secondary method involves slowly walking along a shoreline or over a bridge and pulling your magnet along as you drag it closer to the shore.
This technique increases your coverage area and improves the chances of snagging an item.
However, you may also miss things if you move too quickly and at too sharply of an angle, so vary this technique a little for maximum success.
7. Always Have Multiple Magnets on Hand
This tip is one that more fishers need to try out before throwing out their magnet.
Relying on a single fishing magnet is a recipe for disaster, one that is easily avoidable.
For example, you should have at least two copies of each magnet that you own to avoid potential loss. Just as importantly, you should have magnets of varying power in your pack.
A diverse array of magnets improves your chances of finding interesting items while you magnet fish.
Just as importantly, multiple copies of the same type help you to avoid losing one of your favorite magnets if the line snaps.
Any magnet fisher will tell you that there’s nothing worse than setting aside a whole day for your fishing expedition only to lose your only magnet on the very first throw.
6. Attach a Secondary Rope to Your Magnet
When searching for high-quality magnets for your fishing, make sure that you find one that has at least two eyelets or hooks where you can attach your rope.
This step is wise because it can ensure that you can attach a secondary line to protect yourself from magnet loss.
A secondary rope protects you from loss by adding a lifeline in case your first rope does snap.
Even better, a second rope can help you pull out more massive objects and make it easier for a second person to join in with you when trying to pull out a substantial item.
5. Pay Special Attention to Your Carabiner
One mistake that magnet fishers make is buying a carabiner that is too weak for their fishing.
The carabiner is the hook that locks your rope and your magnet together and which ensures that nothing snaps.
People often forget about this part because they are too busy focusing on their magnet and their line. However, this item is just as essential for your setup.
Typically, you’re going to want a locking carabiner that uses a multitude of interconnected elements to keep your rope and magnet connected.
Just as importantly, you’re going to need a carabiner that is as strong as possible – it’s strength should match that of your rope and your magnet to ensure that it doesn’t snap during a big haul.
4. Antibacterial Gel Can Protect You From Sickness
If you’ve ever gone magnet fishing, you know that it can be a pretty messy affair.
You’re going to be pulling up mud and various other items, such as seaweed and even worms, while you work.
Cleaning off your magnet is vital because it helps to minimize interference when pulling up any item. However, you might end up getting sick due to bacterial exposure.
As a result, it is crucial to bring along paper towels, a garbage bag, and antibacterial gel whenever you to magnet fishing.
Wipe your hands after cleaning the magnet and throw all paper towels in the garbage bag. Avoid using an antibacterial gel every time you clean – this can minimize its effectiveness – but use it at least a handful of times before you go home for the day.
3. Keep Your Expectations Reasonable
Magnet fishers often go out looking for lost treasure and come away with only a handful of fishing hooks, lures, and some pocket change.
This type of haul is typical for magnet fishing but can be upsetting if you’re expecting to find new knives or even tools whenever you magnet fish. So keep your expectations reasonable to avoid any disappointment.
For example, you might attach to an item that is well within your magnet’s weight limit, such as a 200-pound metal pipe.
However, you need to understand how difficult pulling that pipe out will be with your magnet. Even if the magnet holds and the line doesn’t break – which neither should if you’ve chosen the right types – lifting the pipe out of the mud with your bare hands is going to almost impossible.
2. Trust Your Magnet
Most fishing magnets are so small that many fishers may feel like they can’t trust their strength.
This misconception is common and causes a lot of missed opportunities. Instead of assuming that your magnet isn’t powerful enough, you should trust its skill in finding and snagging items from the bottom of a lake or river bed.
For example, some people may think that their magnet is just snagged when it grabs onto something big and tug hard to release it.
This frustrating situation is likely to cost you some interesting items.
Pay attention to how the line feels when you pull on a caught magnet. If the line has a lot of give, you’re likely attached to a flimsy item like seaweed or something similar.
1. Avoid Dragging Your Magnet Too Much
The number one tip for magnet fishing is avoiding dragging your magnet on the floor of the lake bed whenever possible.
While the throw and pull will drag your magnet a little bit on the surface, you can adjust the line length to keep it from trolling in the mud or getting wrapped up in seaweed. These problems cause about 99 percent of all magnet-related issues.
Typically, you want to adjust the line so that your magnet is at least six inches or so above the surface of the lake bed.
You may even want to go higher if you’re worried about thick weeds or rocks in your fishing area. Don’t worry: your magnet has more than enough strength to latch onto metallic items from this height. So tweak your line length with each throw to ensure success.
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