In the two years since Brantford resident Dan Juneau first tried “magnet fishing,” he estimates he may have pulled around 250 pounds of metal waste out of local bodies of water with a strong magnet attached to a rope.
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He discovered the eco-friendly pastime on YouTube, where Juneau, a video production student, now also shares his own adventures.
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A typical haul could include a combination of nails, bottle caps, fishing lures, scrap metal, industrial pipes, and even discarded household items, such as table legs, which he recycles or sells to a scrap yard.
Sixty pounds of scrap will net around $6.75, but Juneau — who donated proceeds from a recent haul to the SPCA — said he’s not in it for the cash.
He enjoys the time in nature — often alongside his German shepherd — and views magnet fishing as “a small way for me to give back to my community,” he said.
The hobby has taken him to nearby waterways and ponds, each yielding unique treasures.
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Under the train bridge in Paris, he pulled up railroad spikes and train track parts, while ponds in Waterford yielded fishing equipment, such as lures and lines, he said.
One of the most satisfying spots he found is a section of the Grand River near Mohawk Park and behind a former glue factory, he said.
“There’s just so much (industrial waste) in there,” he said, and it’s easy to pull out.
Online retailers sell magnet fishing starter kits that consist of a double-sided magnet, heavy-duty rope, a grappling hook and a locking carabiner.
But Juneau has graduated to a heavy-duty neodymium magnet, which weighs around three pounds and is capable of pulling over 2,000 pounds. It costs around $220 (US).
“The better magnet you have, the better luck you’re gonna have,” he said.
Folks who are interested in his finds can visit his YouTube channel, dubbed Dan Adventure Calls — and might even be inspired to try magnet fishing themselves.
“It’s a fun hobby and I’m glad to share it,” he said, adding he’d be happy to see more locals “enjoying it as well.”
Celeste Percy-Beauregard is a Local Journalism Initiative Reporter based at the Hamilton Spectator. The initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.
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