Magnet fishing: The fascination of treasure hunting in the water

We don't know how long magnet fishing or magnet fishing has been around. It became popular at the end of 2015, beginning of 2016 and is still going strong today. It is attracting more and more people, but many are unsure about what is allowed and what is not, which magnets are needed for magnet fishing and are there any dangers?


Table of contents

1. magnet fishing: The fascination of treasure hunting in the water
1.2 What is magnet fishing?
1.3 The difference between the magnet angler and the normal angler
2.1 What equipment do you need for magnet fishing?
2.2 The magnet
2.3 How strong should a magnet fishing rod be?
2.4 The fishing line
2.5 Gloves - not only in bad weather
2.6 Transport box for magnets and finds
3.1 Where are the best places for magnet fishing
3.2 Good things are sometimes so close
3.3 What can you catch when magnet fishing
3.4 Valuable finds when magnet fishing
3.5 Finds with explosive power - is magnet fishing dangerous? 3.6 Clean waters through magnet fishing? 4.1 Where is magnet fishing permitted in Germany? Legal aspects
4.2 These are the penalties for treasure hunting with magnets without a licence
5.1 Danger to animals
5.2 Cleaning equipment and magnets
6.1 Tips and tricks
6.2 The right knot
6.3 Weather influences when magnet fishing
6.4 Keep your distance from the magnet
6.5 The magnet is stuck
7.1 Conclusion

What is magnet fishing? 

Magnet fishing is similar to "sounding", i.e. the detection of metallic objects that are presumed to have been lost. However, fishing with magnets does not take place in fields, fields or meadows, but under the water surface, i.e. in bodies of water and lakes. Instead of using a metal detector, a magnet with a high adhesive force is used, which is attached to a rope and lowered under water and pulled through the water sediment. All ferromagnetic objects are held in place and can be pulled out of the lake or river.

 

The difference between the magnetic angler and the normal angler

In contrast to an angler looking for fish, the magnetic angler searches for treasures from days gone by with his fishing rod, which consists of a mountain magnet and a rope to pull it out. However, it is not uncommon for the angler to find the unexpected in his catch, such as bullets from the last world war, guns and all kinds of metal objects discarded by humans.

 

What equipment do you need for magnet fishing?

The equipment is very simple and less expensive compared to the "real" anglers. Basically, only four items are needed:

• Mounting magnet with eyelet (also called pot magnet or flat magnet)

• A rope with 10-20 metres

• Transport box for the found treasures

• gloves
   

The magnet

The most important thing in your equipment is a magnet. To choose the right magnet for your equipment, you should first think about the intended use, how strong the current is in the water or the watercourse or what you want to pull ashore.

What the fishing hook is for anglers or fishermen, the magnet is for magnet fishermen.
The neodymium magnet is best suited for magnet fishing. These magnets are also known as super magnets or death magnets and are very small compared to ferrite magnets with an enormously high pulling force.

This search magnet should be equipped with an eyelet or a carabiner to securely attach the rope. To be able to pull larger objects out of the depths, this magnet requires a very high pulling force of at least 100 kg. The magnet achieves this 100 kg pulling force with a ferromagnetic object lying flat on the surface. However, sometimes the object is buried under a layer of mud or something else is blocking the find, so the experienced magnet fisherman has various magnets with him.

 

How strong should a magnet for magnet fishing be?

The neodymium magnets easily achieve a pulling force of 600 kg and more. Some block magnets can hold 1,500 kg, but are not suitable for magnet fishing.
Beginners should rather start their hobby with a lower pulling force. The handling of super magnets must be practised for a good catch.

A magnet with an adhesive force of 600 kg is quickly and unintentionally attached to a metal railing, your own car, bicycle or other places. Without the right technique, it is almost impossible for non-professionals to detach it again. The same applies if the magnet gets caught under water on an object weighing several hundred kilograms. It is then almost impossible to detach it. Even with neodymium magnets with a lower adhesive force, unintentionally attaching them to an inaccessible place, such as below the bridge you are standing on, can mean the end of magnet fishing.

Popular retrieval and pot magnets therefore have an adhesive force of between 100 and 200 kg and, for experienced anglers, sometimes 400 or 600 kg. Some magnets have double magnets and can therefore attract catches on both sides.

The magnet fishing set at Magnetmax.de

The fishing line

A fishing line as used for conventional fishing is unsuitable for magnet fishing, as it is not uncommon for catches weighing several kilos to be pulled out of the water. The fishing line for magnet fishing should have special properties. If a line floats 10-20 metres in the water and becomes saturated with it, it can become very heavy very quickly. It is therefore an advantage if the rope is made of polypropylene, which does not absorb water and remains light. It also requires a high tensile force, depending on the strength of the magnet. A diameter of 7-12 mm is sufficient for most magnets.
 

Gloves - not just for bad weather

Since a lot of metal splinters and other pointed and sharp objects are brought to light during the hobby, it is safer to wear suitable gloves. Normal work gloves or gardening gloves are sufficient here and offer protection against rusty objects and the abrasive rope.
 

Transport box for magnets and finds 

A transport box is essential, as normal locations are rarely reached directly by car, usually on foot or by bike. Not only can a possible treasure be transported in it, but also the super magnet. The magnet can also be insulated with polystyrene to prevent it from sticking unintentionally.

In addition, no scrap metal or rubbish found should be thrown back into the water, and the police or explosive ordnance disposal service must be informed if ammunition, guns, bombs or similar items are found. This fishing is therefore not a harmless hobby.

Where are the best places for magnet fishing?

Of course, there is no guarantee for the best places and finds, but there are still some tips for the best places for magnet fishing.

Waters where there are hardly any people will hardly lose anything, so the catch rate is also low.
Fishing in places with a lot of mud and sand is also difficult, as finds are buried deep under the sand or mud. A correspondingly large and strong magnet is then required.

Well-maintained waters are regularly cleaned and any finds removed. In very clean and shallow waters, the chances of a find are also rather low.

Private land, lakes or ponds are of course also taboo without the owner's consent. Wherever people and animals are in the water, magnet fishing should be avoided. There are different regulations in each federal state, which must be observed.
 

Sometimes the good is so close

A suitable spot is not the distant lake or river, but the town bridge, the town lake, the old fountain or the tourist path along the water.
Other good spots are those that can be reached by car, i.e. ferry ramps or abandoned industrial sites on the water.


A lot is potentially lost in places where there are a lot of people, such as on a waterfront promenade, so these are also the best places to fish. However, you can't fish on every bank, lake or pond without hesitation, there are some restrictions and legal regulations. Where magnet fishing is permitted.

What can you catch while magnet fishing?

The spectrum is very broad and there is hardly anything that has not yet been found.
Basically, anything that is ferromagnetic, i.e. has a metallic surface, can be "fished". Everyday finds are therefore often screws, nails, tools, coins, but also construction elements such as pipes, angles, railway tracks and even entire machines, engines and vehicle parts.

At well-known fishing spots, you will probably often come across fishing hooks and other fishing accessories. At bridges, it is often bicycles, jewellery or road signs, but also weapons.
 

Valuable finds in magnet fishing

The fascination of fishing with magnets inspires many and can also bring particularly valuable, curious or even historical finds to light.

It is not uncommon for an old coin or a safe to be pulled out of the water, already forcibly opened and without contents, as well as locked safes with documents or similar contents. Bicycles, shopping trolleys or mopeds are among the more curious finds.
You have to be careful with ammunition and handguns.
 

Finds with explosive power - Is magnetic fishing dangerous?

Weapons and ammunition are ferromagnetic and can therefore be attracted to the mountain magnet. Many waterways are still contaminated with weapons, cartridges and bombs from the Second World War. Therefore, special care must be taken when finding explosive ordnance and world war munitions; if handled improperly, an unexploded bomb can still cause damage.

If such a find is made, the police must be informed. The dangerous object should also not be separated from the magnet; this is the responsibility of the explosive ordnance disposal service. But be careful: Explosive ordnance from the Second World War can often no longer be recognised as such. A careful appraisal of the finds should therefore always apply.
 

Clean waters through magnet fishing?

A lot of scrap and rubbish is recovered through magnet fishing, and these finds should of course not be thrown back into the water, but should be sent for disposal or recycling. This is not a complete cleaning of the waters, but it can still make a small contribution to environmental protection.

Where is magnet fishing permitted in Germany? Legal aspects

In principle, magnet fishing is not prohibited in Germany, but each federal state regulates fishing with magnets differently.
Magnet fishing is listed under monument protection and is permitted in some federal states, in others only with a permit or authorisation (monument protection) and in others it is completely prohibited. A rough overview of the regulations can be found at Bußgeldkatalog.org and on the website of the respective federal state, or the lower water authority.
 

These are the penalties for treasure hunting with magnets without a permit

Those who go magnet fishing without a permit or without observing the applicable requirements risk high fines.
The fines in Lower Saxony range up to €250,000 and in Rhineland-Palatinate, treasure hunting can even cost up to €500,000 in particularly serious cases and without a licence.
 

Danger for animals

The criticism is that magnet fishing poses a danger to marine life and the inhabitants of the waters. inhabitants of the waters. The magnet angler pulls the neodymium magnet through the sediment, which can destroy the habitat and damage spawning grounds. The stirred-up sediment can also disperse pollutants. It is therefore extremely important to obtain sufficient information about where and when you are allowed to fish in the respective municipality and whether or which authorisation is required.

 

Cleaning equipment and magnet

After every fishing session, the equipment, including the magnet, should be disinfected and cleaned. Otherwise, there is a risk that diseases from rivers or lakes can be transferred to others and cause considerable damage to the ecosystem.
 

Tips and tricks

The right knot

The magnet can either be attached directly to the rope or with a carabiner. In either case, a good knot is essential to avoid losing the magnet under water.

A good guide is provided by the fire brigade learning bar on YouTube

A slightly simpler knot is called round twists with two half hitches and can simply be attached to the carabiner.

 

Weather influences when magnet fishing

Magnet fishing is not recommended in all weather conditions. In winter, when there is a thick layer of ice, it is of course not possible.

Even with a small hole in the ice, the search radius is so limited that it will hardly be any fun.

Therefore, spring, summer and autumn are the perfect seasons. After a long period of rain and the resulting high water or very strong currents, however, fishing is not worthwhile.
 

Keep distance to the magnet

A super magnet has a very high adhesive force and can cause electrical devices to malfunction.

Storage media such as hard drives or SD cards (as in smartphones) or EC and credit cards are particularly susceptible. These items should not be within reach of the neodymium mining magnets and are better left in the car or at home when magnet fishing.

 

The magnet is stuck

Once the retrieval magnet has become stuck and it is seemingly impossible to free it again, the angle should be changed when pulling.

From above, the magnet has an enormously high adhesive force, but if you pull on a neodymium magnet from the side, the magnetic attraction is significantly lower and loosening is more likely. If a magnet has become jammed between stones or other material, a new angle and location can also help to loosen its fishing magnet.

 

Conclusion: The fascination of magnet fishing - adventure with responsibility

Magnetic fishing is an exciting hobby that combines a sense of adventure with the chance of valuable or curious finds. The equipment is simple and inexpensive, and the barriers to entry are low. However, as with any hobby there are a few points to bear in mind to protect the environment and your own safety.
 

The most important points at a glance:


Find out about the legal framework in your region. Magnet fishing is not permitted everywhere.
Respect the environment. Dispose of any rubbish you find properly and do not throw anything back into the water.
Pay attention to your safety. Wear gloves and be careful if you find ammunition or weapons.
Make sure you have the right equipment. A strong magnet, sturdy rope and gloves are essential.

Be patient and persistent. Success with magnet fishing is not always immediate.

Magnet fishing can be more than just a hobby. It can also contribute to cleaning up our waters. By retrieving scrap metal from rivers and lakes, you contribute to a clean and healthy ecosystem.

Always remember: magnet fishing should be fun and environmentally friendly at the same time. With the necessary knowledge and the right attitude, nothing stands in the way of a successful and responsible hobby.
 

Favourite magnets for fishing