How to Make a Magnetic Fishing Set!

How to Make a Magnetic Fishing Set!

Learn how easy it is to make a cute little pocket size magnetic fishing set to keep small ones entertained. This little magnetic fishing set is easy to carry in a purse, bag or backpack for instant entertainment on the go.

Make darling felt fish with magnetic washers inside to easily catch with a magnet fishing pole in 30 minutes.

**UPDATE from 2013: Pocket Sized Magnetic Fishing Set in Altoids tin!**

This adorable magnetic fishing set was a post I did in 2013--ten years ago!

These landed a top 20 spot in the CRAFTS/DIY Category on Pinterest in 2013 too! Check out my pinterest board!

Back in those days I had little kids. My oldest was only 10, my daughter 8 and my baby was 4. These little fishing kits were a hit with them. They are great for fine motor skills for young children and great for older kids too. It's a fun way to work on hand-eye coordination.

The best part? I still have this Altoids tin fishing set and I still use it regularly. I bring it to church to entertain other kids, use it in tangible teaching lessons and actually use it myself for relaxation and nostalgia.

I made each of my children their own set of magnetic fish and one for myself. They are easy and fast to make--so make a bunch of them to keep, sell and gift!

These darling fish deserved a post refresh so a new set of young mothers, kids, and new grandmas can see them and make them for their loved ones, teaching aids and busy bags.

A magnetic fishing set makes a great handmade gift too! (make them for birthdays all year long...or save this post for the holiday season!)

Ask kids to fish for their favorite color.

Ask child a question and then have them fish before they tell you their answer.

There are so many applications for using these little fish. 

Okay, let's get started making this magnetic fish game!

Supplies needed for Magnetic Fishing Set:

• Wooden Rod Dowel
• Magnet with a hole in the center...or 2 magnets the same size
• Colorful felt
• Washers or magnetic metal discs
• Hot glue/gun
• Twine or string or fishing line or piece of yarn
• Scissors
• Tin for Storage

Step 1: Washers

Start by making sure your metal washers are magnetic! Use a strong magnet to test the washers.

I had a big bag of washers that weren't...so check first.

I also had these little metal discs, they are the perfect size for "goldfish cracker" sized felt fish.

Anything flat and magnetic will work...but not too heavy.

Step 2: Felt Fish

Begin by cutting 2 fish shapes out of felt. These fish are about an inch long, or close to the size of a goldfish cracker.

You can draw out a fish template on a piece of paper with a fish shape or two and use it to cut out lots of fish outlines from favorite fabrics.

Felt or fleece work best because they don't fray.

Cut out 2 identical pieces of each color of felt and make a number of fish, so the altoid tin is full of much fun.

Reuse the fish pattern or make a bunch of different small animals.

Next, hot glue a washer or metal disc or 2 onto one of the felt fishes.

You can use tacky glue or a hot glue gun, just add a dab of glue and press the washer on to the glue.

This will help contain any small parts to keep them safe for kids and motor skill development.

Then add hot glue to the top of the washers, around the edge of the felt.

Then sandwich the washers with the second felt fish and press down firmly. 

Be cautious as some of the hot glue may squish out the back side. 

This ensures that the metal discs are sealed inside the felt fish.

Let the hot glue cool completely, trim off any excess hot glue, as desired.

Then test out the fish with the magnet and make sure it sticks!

No need to sew it with a sewing machine or hand stitch the edges...this makes them easy to replace as they wear out.

If you are making larger fish, add several metal pieces for an easy catch...or just add one for the perfect "one that got away fish tale" fish.

There's not really a "perfect size" of fish pattern, so decide how big you want the fish.

After the fish are made, you can decorate them with puffy paint, googly eyes or permanent marker!

Step 3: Fishing Rod

Next step, now it's time to make the magnetic fishing pole.

Cut a wooden dowel (or a stick from the yard) to the size of your storage tin. Altoids tins are small, so the dowel is very small too. Larger storage can mean a bigger fishing pole. 

Tie and hot glue twine onto the end of the dowel rod. Hot gluing it firmly in place is ideal for small children. (you could use an unsharpened pencil for the magnetic fishing rod too)

Then tie the donut magnet on the end of the string. The twine (or piece of string) can be as long as you want, anywhere from 6-12 inches for a small Altoids tin.

**NOTE: I keep the string short so that kids stay focused on fishing and not swinging the rod around.

Disc magnets with a center hole are awesome, but in a pinch, you can use 2 magnets and glue them together with the string between them.

Don't drill a small hole in a magnet with a power drill, it will make the magnet lose it's magnetic ability.

We made 12 fish for each set...each different colors...great for teaching colors to small children.

You could get fancy and embroider the fish...add patterns, names and more. You could enhance them with some iron-on vinyl too!

The felt is a good thing that works great because it is tightly woven so it doesn't stretch when kids pull the fish away from the magnet. 

Then put them in a bag, pouch, box or tin. I love how this little mint container holds the most fish fantasy game! It's great to throw in a purse or church bag with those small coins.

The tin is fun, because the magnet will stick right inside too! These fishing kits are great ideas for baby shower gifts or birthday party presents.

Perfect for busy little hands to play with! Great for a sensory bin or putting in a kiddie pool for some fun outdoor fishing.

These fish have saved us in waiting rooms, meetings, quiet places, church and many other places. 

That's it!

Make a magnetic fishing set for a handmade gift, activity for children, or a great way to practice real fishing.

Let me know if you've given this easy diy magnetic fishing game a try since I posted it 10 years ago!

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Check out these posts too!

Sea Creature Fishing Set!

Get fancy using felt and puffy dimensional paint--make all the sea creatures you can think of!

Shark Attack Fishing Set!

Perfect for shark week, make a bunch of sharks to catch and learn about!