Have a spare heavy duty magnet and some rope? Tie on the magnet to the end of 20-40 ft of rope, go out to the local lakes off the dock and drag your magnet along the bottom and it is amazing what you can pull up.
I need to do this to a few ponds I fish and get back a few needlenose and leathermen my daughter (or myself) has dropped over the edge.
Combine the magnet tip with the other tip below to rescue all sorts of cool stuff.. and potentially some decent rods and reels:
http://www.ultimatebass.com/bass-fishing-forum/index.php/topic,75300.0.html (http://www.ultimatebass.com/bass-fishing-forum/index.php/topic,75300.0.html)
Great tip screwball :-*
I've been meaning to try this for a long time, I just haven't found a big enough magnet yet.
I just might try something similar since the lake by my house is closed for the season. Instead, I will gather up maybe 5-8 small lengths of chain links maybe 15" long each and tie that to the end of a rope. Hopefully those links can grab onto some rods and reels that I have seen people accidentally drop over the dock. The magnet thing sounds awesome, but where would one buy a super magnet? from a microwave oven perhaps?
Find an old unused magnet base from a CB antenna, or the hardware and hobby stores always have various magnets.
Easiest way to get a heavy magnet..... OLD SPEAKERS!!! I've got quite a few 10" subs in my barn from my car stereo days. lol, I was in there the other day and realized I have several sony, punch, and lightning audio subs. Maybe I should start sending them out to you all, but the shipping would KILL me ;D
good idea dbrooke....
may be better to check with the local freecycle groups to see if anyone has any blown speakers you can take off their hands
Great pllace to get STRONG magnets.. If you have an old computer hard drive around take it apart and get the magnet from under the head Arm. They are really great for sticking 30+ pages to the refeg or this setup. I have one now that can pick up a good 25 lbs on a 50 rope.. Kayak fishing equals drop "stuff" off the side..