The magnet doesn't work for magnet fishing - or does it?

"Hi Mia. Do you have any magnets that you can magnet fish with? And one where you can tie a string at the end?"

I got this message from Dennis, but apart from the fact that I know him, the message was not that much different from most other messages about magnet fishing.

What do you want to fish with the magnet?

To be able to find the right one magnet, we always need to know a little more about what you want to fish:

• Small coins
• Jewelry
• Tools
• Weapon parts
• Bicycles
• Money boxes

There are of course many more options, but these are the most requested items, and in terms of weight they range widely.

So I asked Dennis if he was out building himself to catch big things, or if it should just be more on a fun level. The choice fell on this magnet: a Ø40 mm. with closed hook.

The magnet did not work

A week later Dennis writes again: the magnet does not work. It captured only one capsule. And it wasn't heavy enough either, as there was too much buoyancy in the line, so it had difficulty going to the bottom of the stream.

There are 3 things to uncover in this scenario:

1. Is the string too thick for the magnet?
2. Is the string suitable for fishing?
3. Was there any something magnetic on the bottom?

The size of the cord:
It is important that you buy a cord that is sized for the magnet you have acquired . A string that is too thin will not be able to hold the pull when you have to lift heavy things up from the bottom of the stream, because then you will not get as much out of the magnet's pulling power. A string that is too thick gives buoyancy because the weight of the magnet must match the string - neodymium magnets are quite small in relation to their strength, and the string must therefore not be so oversized that it sets the direction for, where (and how far down) you can fish.

The nature of the line:
It is also important that you do not use just any kind of line. It must not float above water, nor must it absorb too much water. Both will be a disadvantage for you when you go fishing. So the best advice is to take your magnet down to a fishing shop or to a boat equipment shop. They will be able to guide you.

Was the bottom empty?
A capsule revealed that the magnet could attract metal. But did that mean that the magnet was too weak and did not work for magnet fishing? Or did it mean that there was simply nothing magnetic on the bottom to fish out?

The nightmare of the magnet fisherman

I wasn't on the fishing trip myself, so I can't say whether there was some big things on the bottom of the creek that it just couldn't catch because it would need a much stronger magnetic field.

But it's a 55kg magnet.

It is used both for fishing lost tool boxes and iPhones* that are buried in sand. So its capabilities tend to be impeccable. 

BUT: every magnet fisherman's nightmare is multiple trips without a catch. And this also applies to those with 600 kg. fishing monster magnets. 

*If you are curious about why you want to fish an iPhone out of the water, it is for insurance reasons. In order to get your broken mobile phone covered, you must be able to prove that it is actually broken. And it requires that you have the phone in your hand - not lying at the bottom of the stream or the beach. So an investment in a magnet and good patience is the difference between getting a refund of many thousands of kroner or not from the insurance company.