Fly fishers appreciate the little things that makes their time on the water easier. This means things that aren’t over-engineered, over-complicated, and over-priced. The magnetic fly patches from Magnet-ique easily meet this little and simple criteria.
Since 2019, a pair of British fly fishers have been making these little and simple tools in the UK. They wanted something that would meet a need they had while fishing, and they took the initiative to design, create, and sell their products to anyone else looking for some convenience.
Core to Magnet-ique is two different magnetic, rubberized fly patches. The MagMini is a figure-eight shaped patch and comes in a single (one-sided) or double (two-sided) configuration. The MagMicro is a small, single dot. Both designs come with a metal backplate which facilitates placement on anything from vests to shirts to hats to packs. The plate also features a hook for optional lanyard attachment. What this all means is a versatile and flexible piece of gear.
The design is quite brilliant. Overall, each “spot” is compact. This means that if you place the fly patch somewhere inobtrusive, you’re not going to jostle it or get your line wrapped around it. A rubberized body allows the bottom to hug whatever fabric it is placed upon. The lipped/cupped shape offers protection for any fly that is inside. The magnets themselves are strong, but this affords more security.
There is value that goes beyond fly storage. A pair of forceps or nippers will “dock” themselves on top or alongside one of the Magnet-ique patches. Having these magnets grab your dangling tools does a couple of things. First, it reduces the chances of something getting snagged on a net or streamside vegetation. Second, it can eliminate the harmless yet obnoxious jangling that comes with walking with gear. Again, the cupped shape allows for this feature while still holding hooks fast.
I’ve enjoyed employed the patches from Magnet-ique in a few different ways. For the MagMini, I like a placement where I’m getting both benefits mentioned above. Flies of all sizes (and covered in all manner of materials) will leap to the strong magnets. Midges to musky flies will be held tight. But I’ll put the patch in a location that will catch my forceps. This keeps everything in a compact and safe spot.
I’ve put the MagMicro on my waders. This becomes a quick resting place for patterns that I’m switching back and forth quickly as I fish. With a pair of nippers on my chest as well, I don’t have to dig into a pocket or swing my sling to my front to go from a dry to a nymph and back again.
There are countless other uses I can think of (hanging the MagMicro double by a tying bench, loading a patch up on a t-shirt for a minimalist day on the water, working over the cupped patch when applying non-lead shot). Part of the fun and value of a small and simple product is the experimentation – finding how it makes my time on the water easier.
Magnet-ique patches retail for $13-$26 online, and they ship across the globe. Head to their website to see them in action and order for yourself.
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