The best magnet fishing gear — everything you need for big finds
Starting magnet fishing with the wrong gear is like fishing without bait — frustrating and disappointing. After years of testing everything from budget kits to professional-grade magnets, I've learned that the right gear is the difference between hauling up something great and going home empty-handed.
Whether you want the convenience of a complete kit, the raw power of a custom magnet, or the safety of quality accessories, the trick is matching your gear to your experience level and the spots you fish. Here's where to start.
What do you need for magnet fishing?
Five things, and you can buy them separately or in one box. Everything past this list is nice to have, not required.
- 1 of 5A fishing magnet
The one thing you can’t skip. 500 lb of pull is plenty to start; 1,000 lb is the sweet spot once you know you’re hooked.
Best magnets → - 2 of 5Rated rope, 50 to 65 feet
Static rope rated well above your magnet’s pull. Paracord and hardware-store rope fail at the knot, not the middle.
Rope picks → - 3 of 5Cut-resistant gloves
Everything you pull up is rusty and half of it is sharp. Gloves are the difference between a good day and a tetanus shot.
Glove picks → - 4 of 5A grappling hook
For the bike frame or shopping cart the magnet can feel but can’t lift, and for freeing a snagged magnet.
Grappling hooks → - 5 of 5A bucket and a way to carry finds out
You carry out everything you pull up. A five-gallon bucket and a dry bag for your phone cover it.
Buckets & bags → - ShortcutOr: a complete kit
Magnet, rope, gloves and usually a hook in one box. The fastest way to be on the water this weekend.
Best kits →
