Attracted by magnets

I posted a week or two back about the limited number of truly useful developments in fishing tackle. PD pointed out to me that I had omitted the now ubiquitous net magnet. He is right: that was an oversight. A magnet that holds your net at your nape, or on the side of your pack, is one of the truly clever innovations of the last decade or more.

It got me thinking though, just how many applications there are for magnets in our sport.

Firstly, Graeme arrived bright and early Saturday for our mornings fishing, and presented me with a gift:  a small “fly pad”, which sports a fly threader (much ribbing about my eye-sight), slots for flies, and magnets in several places.

This thing replaces my now bald piece of sheepskin, and apart from the foam slots for the flies, provides several magnets that grab and hold a fly while you are sorting out your tippet.

Such a simple, and yet truly useful feature. When you have a spool of tippet in one hand, a fly in the other, and you need to put something down to deal with a sliding rod or suchlike, you can just touch the fly to one of the magnets, and instantly free a hand to rescue something that would otherwise be swept away in the current. Thank you Graeme!

When tossing out old equipment, I have always raided the guts of whatever it is for magnets. They just seem like such useful things to have around. I don’t quite know why. I am constantly looking for new uses for them. One such use, that sees a magnet permanently with my tying tools, is for picking up tiny hooks that fall under the fly tying desk, and hide in the dappled carpet.

I have written previously about Shaun Futter’s idea in which he showed me how to use a net magnet to attach a wading staff at ones side.

Unless it is a tiny stream, or low water, this is now part of my standard equipment on a river. The staff is as  useful for probing the long grass ahead for snakes, as it is for keeping ones balance in fast water. Without the net magnet, I think the thing would get in my way just enough for me to have given up on carrying a wading staff altogether.

Then just two weeks ago Jem and Tim were marveling at a gadget that I have long since taken for granted: a rod holding magnet.

Such a simple thing, this small “U-shaped” magnet clamps your rod to the side of your car while you are setting up, so avoiding the classic “rod in the car door” accident. It is a wonder that those granting lifetime guarantees on rods don’t give these away with every rod bought. As a rod manufacturer, I think this would be the smartest investment since the rod tube started coming standard. (Hint, Hint….send royalties here).

Last time I took my pickup to the car wash, I neglected to slip the magnet into my pocket. When I came to fetch the vehicle, I immediately checked the special spot inside the bin where it lives, and it was gone! It was only when I threatened to line up the entire car wash staff and probe them with a metal detector, that a bashful fellow came forward and gave up his loot. He must have been a fisherman:  just not my type of fisherman!