Unpopular opinion: Those expensive magnet fishing kits for finding artifacts are a total waste

I spent $85 on a 1200 lb pull magnet and rope set from a popular online store last summer. Took it down to the Chattahoochee River near my town, spent 4 weekends dragging it around. All I got was a rusted bike frame and a bunch of nails. Meanwhile, a buddy used a cheap Harbor Freight magnet for $15 and found a civil war cannonball on his first try. The overpriced gear doesn't guarantee you'll find anything cool, so don't blow your budget on fancy setups. Has anyone else had bad luck with expensive magnetic fishing gear?

2 comments

2 Comments

grant90110d ago

Wait, I think you might be misremembering something about that Harbor Freight magnet... don't those come with a much lower pull rating, like 300 pounds? Cause a buddy of mine used one of those on the Mississippi and barely got a few rusty bottle caps. The 1200 pound one you got sounds about right for the Chattahoochee though, that river is known for being picked over pretty hard by serious guys with boats and bigger magnets...

emma_smith9d ago

Gotta say you're right on this one. I watched a buddy try that Harbor Freight magnet on the Mississippi too. Same thing, just rust and a few bottle caps. I always thought a magnet's a magnet but seeing the difference in action changed my mind. The 1200 pounder is the only way to go for rivers that have been hit hard.