Top Riverside Magnet Fishing Spots for Beginners

Okay so picture this. You're standing at the edge of Lake Evans in Fairmount Park, the same spot where people have been hanging out since 1924. You toss your magnet out, let it sink, and start dragging it back. Then you feel that unmistakable tug and pull up a chunk of rusty metal that's probably been sitting on the bottom since someone dropped it during a Fourth of July celebration decades ago. That right there is the whole thing. That feeling never gets old, no matter how many times it happens.

For anybody who's never tried this before, magnet fishing is basically exactly what it sounds like. You attach a strong neodymium magnet to a rope, throw it into the water, and drag it along the bottom to see what sticks. Old tools, coins, fishing gear, bolts, hooks, the occasional bike part that some kid probably lost years ago. You never know what's down there, and that mystery is the whole point. It's like metal detecting but wetter, which honestly makes it better.

Riverside County has a genuinely wild variety of water to explore. You've got a century-old urban lake with serious history, multiple boat ramp setups where boaters have been dropping their gear for decades, and even access to the Colorado River out near Blythe. I put together this list of the best spots so you can skip the guesswork and just get out there.


Check out our How to Start Magnet Fishing: A Beginner’s Guide for all the newbie tips!

magnet fishing in Riverside

Top Magnet Fishing Spots in Riverside

Here are the best spots across Riverside County to throw your magnet. Some are right in the city, some require a bit of a drive, but every single one has legitimate reasons to be on this list.

Lake Evans (Fairmount Park)

Why It's Great: This lake has been a community hub since its 1924 dedication, hosting boat pageants, Fourth of July celebrations, concerts, and big public gatherings for over a hundred years. That kind of foot traffic near water for that long means there is genuinely a lot of stuff sitting on the bottom. A century of dropped keys, coins, tools, and random metallic junk is basically a magnet fisher's dream scenario.

Accessibility: Fairmount Park is a public city park with road access via Dexter Drive that circles the entire lake, so you can scout multiple shoreline spots pretty easily. It's a family-friendly setup with established paths and plenty of room to spread out.

Pro Tip: Focus your throws near the areas that would have hosted boat activity or large crowd gatherings along the shoreline. The lake also has two islands, so if you can get a good angle toward the edges of those, that could be interesting territory.

Nearby Perks: You're in a full city park, so there are amenities nearby to make a whole afternoon out of it. Pack some snacks, bring the kids, and make a day trip out of it because there's plenty to do while you take breaks between throws.

Lake Perris State Recreation Area (Perris)

Why It's Great: This place has multiple public boat launch ramps including Ramp 5, Ramp 6, Ramp 7, and Power Cove Ramp, plus a full marina with dry storage. Boat ramps are basically the magnet fishing equivalent of hitting a pinata. Boaters drop anchors, tools, keys, tackle, and all kinds of gear near ramps constantly, and it just sits there waiting for someone like us to come along.

Accessibility: It's a California State Recreation Area with established parking and facilities at multiple ramp locations around the lake. Very family-friendly with paved surfaces and good infrastructure. Just remember to check with California State Parks about any restrictions before you go.

Pro Tip: Don't just hit one ramp and call it a day. With four public launch ramps plus additional access points at Alessandro Island, Bernasconi Pass, and Sail Cove, you've got a bunch of different spots to explore, each with their own little pile of forgotten goodies on the bottom.

Nearby Perks: Perris has basic town amenities nearby for food and fuel. Summer is peak boating season here, which means more recent drops, but it also means more people around, so a shoulder season visit in spring or fall might get you better shoreline access.

Lake Elsinore Recreation Area (Lake Elsinore)

Why It's Great: Lake Elsinore is a natural lake in an urban area, which means it's got historical depth on top of all the modern recreational boating activity. The Recreation Area has a public launch ramp, and the nearby Lake Elsinore West Marina adds a full marina and dry storage to the mix. More boats in and out means more stuff on the bottom near those ramps.

Accessibility: Public access is confirmed with multiple facilities including the marina and an RV park nearby, which means good parking and infrastructure. It's a solid family-friendly outing with plenty of room to set up.

Pro Tip: Natural lakes in urban settings tend to accumulate finds from multiple eras, not just recent boating gear. Work the area right around the launch ramp zone where boats slow down and people are loading and unloading, because that's where stuff gets dropped most often.

Nearby Perks: Lake Elsinore is a full city with restaurants and shops nearby. If the kids get bored watching you drag a magnet around, there's plenty of other stuff in town to keep everyone happy.

Diamond Valley Lake Boat Launch Facility (Hemet)

Why It's Great: Diamond Valley Lake is one of the largest reservoirs in Southern California, and it's got two separate facilities right there: the public boat launch and the Diamond Valley Marina with dry storage. Big lake plus active boat launch plus a full marina equals a whole lot of dropped anchors, tackle, and tools sitting around the entry points just waiting to be found.

Accessibility: Both facilities are confirmed public access with the kind of developed parking and walkways you'd expect from a marina and dry storage operation. Hemet is accessible via major roads so getting out here is straightforward.

Pro Tip: At a lake this size, sticking close to the boat launch infrastructure is the move. The sheer surface area of the lake is a lot to take on, but the ramp and marina zones are concentrated activity points where your chances of finding something good go way up.

Nearby Perks: Hemet has basic city amenities for grabbing food before or after your session. This one's a bit of a drive from central Riverside but the size of the lake and the two separate access facilities make it worth the trip.

Mayflower County Park Boat Launch (Colorado River, Blythe)

Why It's Great: This is a public boat launch on the actual Colorado River, which has supported commercial operations, agricultural activity, and recreational boating for a very long time. The Blythe stretch of the river has at least six boating facilities in close proximity, which tells you this has been a seriously active boating corridor for years. River spots near launch areas are prime territory because moving water slows near ramps and all that heavy metal stuff settles right there.

Accessibility: Mayflower County Park is a public county park with confirmed launch access and the kind of parking and shoreline access you'd expect from a county facility. Blythe is a small city so basic amenities are available nearby.

Pro Tip: The Colorado River can have fluctuating water levels due to upstream dam releases, so check conditions before you go. On the flip side, shifting water levels can actually surface items that were previously buried deeper, so timing a visit after water level changes isn't a bad idea at all.

Nearby Perks: There are multiple boating resorts and facilities along this stretch of the river, which means you're not totally out in the middle of nowhere. Fair warning, Blythe is about two hours east of Riverside proper, so this is a full day trip. Pack a cooler, bring the whole crew, and make an adventure out of it.

Essential Tips for Magnet Fishing in Riverside

First thing first, let's talk safety. Always wear gloves because the stuff you pull up has been sitting in water for who knows how long and the edges can be rough. I'm talking rusty, sharp, and occasionally gross. Gloves are cheap, tetanus shots are not. Also be smart about where you're standing, especially at boat ramps where the concrete can get slippery near the waterline.

Riverside County's water situation is pretty diverse, which is actually great for us. You've got calm urban lake conditions at Lake Evans and the reservoirs, and then the moving water dynamics of the Colorado River out near Blythe. For lakes and reservoirs, slow retrieves work great because you want that magnet dragging the bottom. For river spots, you need to account for current pulling your rope downstream, so adjust your angle and give yourself extra rope length.

Seasonally speaking, Southern California's mild climate means you can pretty much magnet fish here year-round, which is honestly one of the best things about this region. Summer brings the heaviest boating traffic to Lake Perris, Lake Elsinore, and the Colorado River spots, meaning more recent drops. If you want quieter access to shorelines and boat ramps, winter and early spring are your friend. Just keep an eye on flash flood advisories in late summer monsoon season and winter storms because those conditions can be dangerous near waterways.

Please, for the love of everything, dispose of what you pull up responsibly. Bring a trash bag or a bucket for your finds. Leave the spot cleaner than you found it. Rusty metal pulled out of a public lake is metal that's no longer in a public lake, and that's genuinely a good thing. But don't just pile it on the bank and walk away. Pack it out.

This is also a legitimately great activity to do with kids, and I cannot stress this enough. Kids go absolutely bananas when something sticks to the magnet. Even a boring old bolt gets a huge reaction. Pack snacks, bring a folding chair, and let them take turns throwing the magnet. Just make sure little ones stay back from the water's edge and have an adult managing the rope near any ramps or drop-offs. It's a fun family day that doesn't require a screen or a ticket price.

Recommended Gear for Riverside Adventures

After testing way too much equipment over the past couple years, here's what actually works well for Riverside's spots:

Need gear to get started? Check out our guides to the best magnet fishing kits, top-rated magnets for every budget, and essential accessories that'll make your trips way more fun—I've tested everything so you don't have to!

  • Is magnet fishing legal in Riverside?

    Magnet fishing in public waterways is generally fine, but you'll want to check the specific rules for wherever you're headed. Lake Perris is a California State Recreation Area, so it's worth contacting California State Parks directly before you toss your magnet in. For city spots like Lake Evans in Fairmount Park, check with Riverside's Parks, Recreation & Community Services Department to make sure you're good to go. And of course, private property is always off-limits, so stick to public access areas.

  • What can I find magnet fishing in Riverside?

    Riverside's got some really interesting history to back up your finds, from a century of civic celebrations at Lake Evans to decades of boating activity on the Colorado River and local reservoirs. You can expect the usual urban suspects like old fishing tackle, bike frames, and tools, but the older spots like Fairmount Park could turn up some genuinely cool historical pieces after 100 years of public use. Boat ramps at places like Lake Perris and Diamond Valley Lake are goldmines for dropped anchors, keys, and boating hardware. And hey, if you pull up some junk that's not magnetic, do everyone a favor and pack it out.

  • Do I need a permit for these spots?

    Most public parks and waterways in Riverside County don't require a special permit just for magnet fishing. That said, spots like Lake Perris State Recreation Area are managed by California State Parks, which might have specific rules about disturbing the lake bottom or recovering objects. If it's your first time at a new spot, it's always a smart move to check with the local park office or ranger station before you get started. A quick phone call can save you a headache later.