Even the very best fishing magnet in history won’t be all that useful if you don’t match it with the best rope for magnet fishing. The magnet and the rope work together, or else you’re just wasting your time and money.
While it’s true that quite a few fishing magnets these days come with a rope attached, you may want to consider replacing them with something better. In fact, you may want to buy a standalone fishing magnet, so you can save money and buy the magnet fishing rope separately.
These ropes aren’t all the same in quality, and some are definitely better than others. The good news is that you’ll get the facts you need to help you make an informed choice.
Also, we’ve put up a list of the good ones to help you narrow down your choices.
Top 6 Ropes for Magnet Fishing: Comparison Chart
Here’s a quick look at what you can expect from the magnet fishing ropes we recommend:
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| Image | Name | Features | Price |
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Woodland Home Deluxe Magnet Fishing Rope |
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Check Price |
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Loreso Strong Magnet Fishing Rope with Double Carabiner |
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Check Price |
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NIECOR Magnet Fishing Rope |
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Check Price |
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GINEE Static Climbing Rope |
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Check Price |
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UTOMAG Magnet Fishing Nylon Rope with Carabiner |
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Check Price |
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Syiswei Nylon Fishing Rope & Carabiner |
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Check Price |
Best Picks for Magnet Fishing Ropes
There are lots of rope options available, and it’s not enough that you just pick one that’s advertised as a rope for magnet fishing.
To help you in your decision, we’ve managed to cull down the various prospects into a convenient list of the most useful and reliable ropes you can attach your magnet. While each one offers different features, you’re likely to find one of these options to match your particular needs and preferences.
Woodland Home Deluxe Magnet Fishing Rope
- This has a 2,000-pound tensile strength.
- It’s static, meaning it doesn’t stretch at all.
- The carabiner attached to the rope is tough as well.
- The looped end is stitched and wrapped in plastic.
- It’s only 8mm thick.
- The orange color is easy to see in the water.
Woodland Home considers this their premium fishing magnet rope, and it’s hard to disagree with them. this is also versatile enough to use for camping and hiking.
This is about 52 feet long, which works well enough when you’re by the bank of a river or pond. That’s long enough for you to throw the magnet a good distance.
This is 8mm in diameter, which is within the normal range for these types of rope. It’s also orange in color, which is a typical feature as the color makes it easy to see in the water.
What’s not so usual, however, is its astonishing tensile strength of at least 2,000 pounds. That is, you’ll have to try lifting a 2,000-pound weight with this rope to break it.
What that means is that it just won’t break. At least, you can expect the magnet to let go of the metallic item in the water before the rope breaks due to the weight.
Keep in mind that you rarely (if ever) see fishing magnets that even comes close to having a similar kind of magnetic pulling force. The really powerful fishing magnets may have a pulling force of 1,200 pounds, but usually it’s closer to 500 pounds.
This rope is also static, so there’s no dangerous stretch for you to deal with. It’s made of durable polyester, with 48 individual strands combining to make the rope.
The rope at one end has looped around a plastic button, and the end of the rope is stitched back in the loop for a secure fit on the “button”. The stitching is further protected by a protective plastic cover.
There’s a strong carabiner attached to the button on the rope, and that’s what you attach to the eyebolt on the fishing magnet. This carabiner is tough enough that it’s at least as strong as the rope as well.
Loreso Strong Magnet Fishing Rope with Double Carabiner
- You’ll need to go over 1,200 pounds to break the rope.
- This is resistant to chemicals, UV rays, rot, and mildew.
- It works very well even when wet.
- It’s easy to carry, as it is compact and lightweight.
- The blue color is easy to see in the water.
- It comes with 2 carabiners.
- It’s 65 feet long and a quarter of an inch in diameter.
This comes with an extra carabiner, but that doesn’t mean that Loreso expects the first carabiner to fail anytime soon. You can always use it for the other end of the rope, to secure it to something when you’re pulling stuff from the water.
The end of the rope has a loop where the carabine is attached, on which the rope is looped and knotted. The end of the knot is also secured by the rubber covering.
Don’t worry about the carabiner, as it’s steel and quite tough. The rope is tough as well, so it’s a good match.
It’s made of durable reinforced polyester, and it’s strong enough to rate a tensile strength of 1,200 pounds. That gives you more leeway when picking a magnet, as this time you can go with a stronger pulling force.
This is resistant to tearing, and it even resists mildew. It doesn’t get damaged by UV rays, rot, or any chemicals in the water.
Even the water itself won’t make it weaker. It won’t kink when it’s wet.
It’s also lightweight and compact, which makes it easier to bring along when you’re going magnet fishing.
The rope is 65 feet long, and it’s also ¼ of an inch in diameter. It’s blue in color, so it’s easier to see even in the water.
Of course, its use isn’t limited to just magnet fishing. it can help secure your camping tent, or you can even use it for a tree swing in the backyard.
NIECOR Magnet Fishing Rope
- It’s available in 98-ft and 64-ft lengths.
- You can get this in an orange color.
- It can lift up a weight of 660 pounds.
- It doesn’t wear down easily and it’s resistant to corrosion.
- You can use this without gloves for other purposes.
- It doesn’t stretch.
- It’s lightweight and easy to tie a knot with.
It’s always nice when you get a rope specifically designed for magnet fishing, instead of a using a climber’s rope to make do. This one comes with a carabiner with the rope firmly knotted to it, while the ends of the knot are encased in tough plastic to make sure the knot never comes loose.
Here we picked the orange option, since the black one is much harder to see. We also went with the longest rope length available at 98 feet, though there are shorter options at 64 and 32 feet.
Regardless of the length, you get the same interwoven 22 fibers in the inner core. Most ropes (even the ones for climbing) only use 13 fibers which makes them weaker and less reliable.
So, how tough is this rope? The maximum tensile force is 660 pounds (300 kilograms), so it works very well with your standard 500-pound magnetic pulling force.
It’s resistant to wear and to corrosion as well. The strong inner core is covered by durable polypropylene, which means it doesn’t absorb water.
This won’t slip even if you’re not wearing gloves (though we strongly recommend that you wear waterproof gloves nonetheless). The skin slip rate is extremely low at just 0.05%.
This doesn’t stretch (it’s a static rope), and it’s also easy to knot. It’s lightweight as well, and you can roll it in into a compact set.
GINEE Static Climbing Rope
- This is extremely tough.
- Available lengths range from 35 to 250 feet.
- You can get it in orange (though black is also an option).
- It comes with 2 metal carabiners, 2 buttonholes, and 2 plastic cases for your knots.
This offers a wide range of options. That starts with the color, and we picked the orange over the black.
Then you can go with either the 10mm or 16mm diameter. Though the 16mm diameter is stronger (obviously), we went with the 10mm because it’s easier to handle and knot.
You also have a range of lengths to choose from, starting from just 35 feet up to 250 feet. We went with the standard 100-ft length, which works well enough for magnet fishing from pedestrian bridges.
The rope comes with 2 metal carabiners, and also 2 button holes. You also get the 2 tough plastic rings to make sure the loops around the button holes don’t come loose.
This is also a static rope, which is important for magnet fishing. You don’t want it to stretch while you’re hauling in a heavy safe from the water.
Just attach this to your magnet and you’re good to go. The tensile strength isn’t mentioned, but it should be at least 500 pounds.
That’s because we even tied this to our pickup truck and managed to get our stuck fishing magnet out of the water. It didn’t fray even after then.
All in all, it’s a very versatile rope that can be used for climbing, hiking, and camping. You can use it for tree swings, and some even use it for their boat anchor.
But for magnet fishing, it’s really ideal. It just ticks all the appropriate boxes regarding the features you need from your rope.
UTOMAG Magnet Fishing Nylon Rope with Carabiner
- It’s available in different colors and diameters.
- At 8mm diameter, the tensile strength is 1,102 pounds
- It’s resistant to rust.
- It resists chemicals in the water, including gasoline and oil.
- It doesn’t stretch much, and then it returns to its original length.
- It’s easy to tie a knot with.
- It’s no trouble to throw for magnet fishing.
This is available in 65 feet, and you can get it in red or orange (we went with orange).
It’s also available in 6mm diameter, and that gives you a tensile strength of 617 pounds. But we opted for the 8mm, since now we have a rope that can pull in up to 1,102 pounds.
It’s already knotted securely to a tough carabiner, and the ends of the knot is encased in durable plastic to keep the knot from unravelling.
This is made of tough nylon, but it doesn’t really stretch. Even if you think it stretched a bit, it just returns to its original shape afterwards.
It’s really strong, and highly resistant to abrasion. The stainless-steel carabiner also won’t rust even if you keep using it in the water.
This won’t rot either, and you don’t have to worry about getting it exposed to gasoline, oil, and other chemicals in the water.
While it warns about using this in the water, it’s actually great for that purpose. Even when wet, it’s so strong that we even felt like it can pull an entire car out of the water.
All in all, it’s a highly versatile rope that you can use for outdoor activities and even for towing. It certainly works more than well enough for magnet fishing.
Get this if you’re an outdoorsy stuff with interests well beyond magnet fishing. It just works for a lot of things.
Syiswei Nylon Fishing Rope & Carabiner
- Its tensile strength ranges from 617 to 1,102 pounds,
- It’s extremely tough, and resistant to water absorption.
- There’s a firmly knotted carabiner at the end.
- It’s versatile for lots of outdoor activities.
- It’s soft to the tough even when you’re not wearing gloves.
If you have a standard fishing magnet with 500 pounds of pulling force, try to pair it with this all-purpose rope. The 6mm rope has a tensile strength of 617 pounds, so the magnet will pull out of the metallic item before this rope breaks.
But we went for the 8mm, as it’s much stronger. This time, the tensile strength is 1,102 pounds, so it can handle all but the strongest fishing magnets in the market.
The inner core is made of 24 tough braided nylon fibers inside (15 in the 6mm), and then the whole thing is encased in water-resistant polypropylene. That means you get the strength of nylon but with the advantages of the tough plastic around it.
The rope is securely knotted around the carabiner that goes with it, and the ends of the knot are wrapped in a secure heat shrink tube. Basically, your carabiner just won’t come loose.
This rope works for many activities, including fishing, boating, camping, and hiking. While we don’t recommend it for climbing, it’s just great for magnet fishing.
Go for the orange, as the black seems only best for trip wires as it’s harder to see. The rope is actually soft to the touch to minimize rope burns, but for magnet fishing we always recommend that you still use the gloves for a more secure grip.
What is the best rope for magnet fishing?
Basically, the best rope for magnet fishing is one that’s specifically designed for this purpose. That’s even if it’s versatile enough that it can be used for camping and hiking.
Often, these magnet fishing ropes already come with a proper carabiner. This means the carabiner is at least just as strong as the rope itself.
Also, the rope is already secured to the carabiner. That often means having a stitched looped end attached to the carabiner, so you’re reasonably sure the rope won’t loosen from the carabiner.
It’s true that quite a few ropes meant more specifically for hiking or even climbing can also be used for magnet fishing. But that’s not always true.
Many of the hiking and climbing ropes are designed to work dry. That is, it’s not supposed to get wet.
On the other hand, rope that’s specifically meant for magnet fishing must work well even when it gets wet. Either it doesn’t get wet, or its strength and function aren’t affected by the absorbed water.
It has to be strong as well, and usually that means having a tensile strength that’s string that the magnet’s pulling force. It should also be easy to pull and handle, at least with gloves on.
It’s also better when the color is bright enough to see even under the water. That way, you have a better idea of what’s happening to the rope.
What kind of rope to use for magnet fishing?
There are basically 2 types of ropes that are recommended for magnet fishing. One type is a rope made with paracord, while the other type is made with polypropylene.
Paracord (or Just Tough Nylon)
This is a type of nylon rope that’s so strong that its original use was for parachutes. That’s how paracord got its name in the first place.
The main advantage of paracord is that it’s so strong that you’re able to enjoy considerable pulling force. It doesn’t even have to be all that thick, either.
On the other hand, as it’s made of nylon it has a tendency to absorb water. That may affect its strength, and it becomes rather harder to pull as a result.
Polypropylene
This is actually a type of plastic, and it’s tough enough that it’s used for protective car bumpers. It’s also used for rope, and you have tough ropes as a result.
It’s very durable and resistant to regular wear and tear. It’s also able to withstand sudden stresses.
You also don’t have to worry about absorbing water. It also doesn’t break down easily when exposed to various bases and acids.
It’s also lightweight, and affordable to boot.
On the other hand, it’s somewhat hard to overcome the prejudice that some people have about “plastic” items.
How many feet rope do you need for magnet fishing?
The length of the rope you need for magnet fishing depends a lot on the situation you find yourself in.
Consider if you’re just trying your fishing magnet gear in a shallow pond. If that’s the case, then you may want to keep it to just 60 feet or so.
That’s still long enough for you to extend your range and try to haul things from farther away. At the same time, you don’t have to deal with an overlong rope that’s just too troublesome to handle and coil.
However, a short rope won’t do you much good if you’re magnet fishing from atop a pedestrian bridge over a deep canal or river. Your short rope may not even reach the river bed, which makes the fishing magnet basically useless.
In these cases, you may want to go with a rope that’s about 100 feet long. That should be long enough for most cases, and you’re still able to hurl the magnet to reach areas from farther away.
That still won’t be too long to handle when you haul in your find from the river. A rope that’s 200 feet long is just too much of a handle
How strong should it be?
When it comes to the strength of the rope for magnet fishing, we’re referring to 2 distinct attributes.
Tensile Strength
First, we need to know its tensile strength. This refers to how much weight it can hold before it breaks.
What you need is a rope that won’t break just because you’re pulling in something heavy. It has to handle the weight of the stuff you’re trying to haul in.
The best indicator of the proper tensile strength is the magnetic pulling force of your fishing magnet. This is the weight (or the amount of force needed) for you to pull of a magnet from something metallic.
You want your rope to have a greater tensile strength than the pulling force of the magnet. That way, the magnet will slip off the metallic object before your rope breaks from the strain of the weight you’re pulling in.
Durability
Of course, you also need to know how long the rope will last.
Sometimes the rope may get damaged as you use it constantly. Over time, it may not be as strong as it was when it was new.
Everything wears out and breaks down eventually. That’s true of ropes as well, though hopefully your rope won’t wear out too quickly.
If you can get years of use from your rope, then you’re good.
What makes a rope good for magnet fishing?
You’re the best person to answer this question. If you use a rope that doesn’t give you any problems, then it’s great.
It has to be strong
The first thing that makes a rope “good” for magnet fishing is its tensile strength. It has to be able to bear a weight that’s at least the same as the pulling force of the magnet.
It has to have the right length
Then it should be long enough. It’s should be 50 to 60 feet long for shallow water, or if you’re standing by the bank of the pond or river. Go with a longer rope if you’re standing high atop a bridge over the body of water.
However, it shouldn’t be too long. That just adds to your problem since you won’t need the extra length anyway.
You need the right width too
You may as well consider the right diameter.
It shouldn’t be too thick, or else it can’t work with the carabiner. It would also be too heavy and unwieldy.
At the same time, it can’t be too thin. Aside from losing strength if it’s too thin, you may also hurt you hand when pulling on the rope, even when you’re wearing gloves.
It comes with a tough carabiner
It ought to come with a carabiner already, so that the rope can be securely knotted in the factory. It can even be stitched and then covered with a rubber or plastic casing.
It should work even when wet
Some ropes don’t work as well when it absorbs too much water. However, magnet fishing ropes must be designed for use in the water, because you’re doing some kind of “fishing” after all.
It’s tough
The rope may come across various metallic objects under the water, and these things may come with sharp edges. Regardless, the rope should be able to keep from tearing from these sharp edges too easily.
There may be chemicals in the water, and the rope should be resistant to these chemicals too. It also should resist rot and mildew, and even UV rays.
How to tie magnet fishing rope
While it’s always possible for you to tie your rope to your fishing magnet directly, it’s often a better idea to use a carabiner as your go-between. That means you tie the rope to the carabiner, so you’re able to quickly detach the rope from the magnet.
So how do you tie your magnet fishing rope to the carabiner? That depends on the knot you use.
Various magnet fishing veterans have their own ideas on what’s the best knot to use for magnet fishing. You can even use your favorite angler knots if you’re an avid fishing angler.
However, do not use these knots for magnet fishing:
- Overhand knot
- Square knot
- Portuguese bowline knot
The problem with these knots is that they’re just not reliable for hauling in heavy stuff from the water. The knots just come undone too easily, and you may end up just losing your magnet in the water instead.
Here are some suggestions as to the knots you can try, though each knot here has its own set of pros and cons.
Palomar Knot
In most cases, knots aren’t as strong as the rope itself. One of the exceptions to this rule is when you use a Palomar knot, as it’s often just as strong as the rope itself.
Some people use this directly on the eyebolt attached to the magnet, without the need for the carabiner.
It’s so sturdy that you just don’t expect it to come loose or break free no matter what. Even if you pull on this with all your strength, it virtually never fails.
On the other hand, some people have difficulty trying to tie to knot. You should practice a lot on getting this right, so you don’t need to watch a YouTube video when you’re trying to tie the knot near a river.
The Double Figure 8 Loop
One of the main advantages of this knot is that it gets even tighter the harder you pull on the knot.
The standard figure 8 loop is very popular in fly-fishing, because using this knot doesn’t really weaken the rope as a result.
When you use this while pulling on the knot, in most cases it just won’t fail. However, there are times when the regular figure 8 loop does weaken when you pull on it.
That’s why we recommend the double figure 8 loop.
It’s very strong and stable and it’s quite unlikely that it will slip. It just won’t come undone all that easily, and it’s even somewhat easy to tie (compared to other knots).
The main disadvantage, however, is that once you tie the knot, it’s rather difficult to untie. So, use this if you don’t plan to remove the rope from the magnet or carabiner.
Final Notes on Knots
You may have noticed that we didn’t put in instructions on how to tie these knots. That’s because describing the knot-tying process isn’t as clear as watching a demo video on how the knot is tied.
So just go to YouTube and find a demo video on how to tie all of these knots.
Of course, the easiest thing for you is to just buy a rope that’s already secured to the carabiner it comes with. That way, you won’t have to risk using a knot that’s not as reliable.
Tips to Handle Magnet Fishing Ropes
It’s great if you happen to settle on the best magnet fishing rope you can find within your budget.
But even the best ropes for magnet fishing won’t do a lot of good if you don’t know how to use it properly. And it won’t last if you also don’t take care of it.
Here are some tips on handling your magnet fishing rope to optimize its durability and usefulness.
Always Wear Gloves
You’ll know this the first time you use the rope for magnet fishing without gloves. It’s just not fun at all.
The gloves protect your hands from pain, plus you also get a better grip. Your hands don’t get wet either.
Keep It Clean
A dirty rope generally doesn’t perform as well, and it won’t last as long. If your gloves keep turning black when you use the rope, it’s time to clean it.
You have to wash it by hand, however. Never use the washing machine for your rope.
To clean the rope, you need a cleaner specifically meant for ropes. If you don’t have one, some sort of mild soap may do for the meantime.
- Fill a tub with warm (not hot) water.
- Add the cleaner or mild soap (such as Dawn) to the water.
- Place the rope in the tub and swish it around. Pull the whole length of the rope through your hands.
- Once you give the cleaner enough time to work to remove the dirt, take out the soapy water.
- Fill the tub with clean water to rinse the rope. Do this until the water runs clean.
- Just hang the rope over the shower curtain rod to clean it. Don’t leave it in direct sunlight.
- Make sure it’s dry before you store it away.
Check the Rope for Damage
When you’re running your hands through the entire length of the rope, that’s the perfect time to check it for damage. You want to make sure that you don’t have any abrasions, nicks, and cuts.
If it’s damaged, then you may want to retire the rope and get a new one. Even a small cut can seriously lessen the tensile strength of your rope.
Even the best ropes for magnet fishing only last 1 to 3 years. After 3 years, you may want to get a new one.
Final Verdict
While all the recommended ropes on our list are terrific, if we have to settle on one, we have to go with the Woodland Home Deluxe Magnet Fishing Rope.
This is simply the no-worry rope, since the tensile strength is almost unbelievable at 2,000 pounds.
That means you can use it for other stuff, including towing. In fact, if your magnet gets stuck underwater, just tie this securely to your pickup truck to get your magnet back.
The main drawback is that it’s not that long at 52 feet. That may not suffice when you’re on a pedestrian bridge high atop a river.
But then you can always get 2 of these ropes, and tie them together. The rope is only 8mm in diameter and knots are easy to tie with it.
Whichever you pick, the best ropes for magnet fishing we recommend just won’t let you down.
FAQs of Best Rope for Magnet Fishing
How do you get a firm grip on the rope?
The best way to make sure you get a secure grip on your rope is to wear rubber gloves. These gloves have to be waterproof as well, since you generally have to handle rope that’s been in the water.
These gloves also protect your hands from rope burn. It’s no coincidence that most kits for fishing magnets include a rope and a pair of gloves.
Is it okay to tie a rope to the eyebolt of the magnet?
That can work, but it’s probably more efficient to just tie the rope to a carabiner first. Then you can just attach the carabiner to the eyebolt.
The advantage of using a carabiner is that it’s much faster and easier to detach the rope from the magnet. When you’ve tied the rope directly to the eyebolt, loosening the rope can take a while.
Why is it important to use a static rope?
A static rope is one that doesn’t stretch all that much (or at all). The other type is the dynamic rope, which does stretch.
Stretchy rope can be a problem with magnet fishing, because you can pull on the rope and just stretch it instead. Also, there’s the risk that something heavy might just come free and hit something accidentally with greater force.
Featured Image by Will O
