Gear Review: Cling Magnetic Fly, Tool, and Rod Solutions

The author’s Mag Grab Plus loaded up with bass and carp flies. Photo: Rick Mikesell

Magnetic fly patches have been around for a while. As I noted in an earlier review, I have never fully trusted them. They are fine for a quick dry of a used fly or for holding a tool while you juggle a fish or re-rig, but they often fail in motion. Brush-busting or a jostle in the truck bed almost guarantees a lost fly or tool. Cling Fishing is changing that. Not only are they winning some trust, but they are also adding color, style, and smart layout choices, as well—all while keeping manufacturing small-batch and American-made. Jared and the Cling crew have been quietly building out a full line of magnetic storage tools, and their Mag Grab Mini, Mag Grab Plus, Mag Grab Delta, and new Mag Grab Rod Rack have all been magnetizing my summer fishing.

Three Sizes, Many Uses

All Mag Grab products are milled from anodized aircraft-grade aluminum and feature rare-earth neodymium magnets chosen to be strong enough to hold tools and large flies, yet delicate enough to allow easy fly removal. The face plate is designed to resist corrosion and last through years of river grit and truck dust.

Mag Grab Mini

Small in size but big on utility, the Mini was the control item for this year’s 25 on the Fly tournament. With multiple teammate switches, lots of gear shuffling, and a weekend of chaos, the Mini never came loose or went missing. Its compact footprint holds more than a dozen flies, and its magnet is strong enough to anchor forceps or nippers during a midstream tangle. Cling’s laser engraving also makes it a hit for events, brands, and artists looking to showcase a logo or design on something people will actually use.

Mag Grab Plus

The Plus is a scaled up version, better suited to the larger flies I fish most often. It has more surface area, more magnet coverage, and a deeper well, making it ideal for streamers or carp bugs with heavier hooks. It also offers a larger canvas for engraving, which came in handy as it served as my name tag throughout the Fly Fishing Show circuit this season. Functionally and visually, it is a great solution for bigger flies and bigger graphics.

Mag Grab Delta

The Delta is designed for more permanent mounting, using an adhesive-backed steel plate that sticks to most smooth surfaces. Mine lives in the bed of my truck. It is now my go-to station for pre-trip, mid-trip, and post-trip rigging. It easily holds all fly sizes and a pair of mitten clamps, keeping everything accessible and organized for client rigging or a fast solo turnaround. While I trust Cling’s magnets far more than any I have used before, I still would not call the system 100 percent secure. It is excellent for drying flies and staging tools while rigging, but aggressive branches or brush can still knock things loose. Tools that matter should still be clipped to a zinger. And at the end of the day, I still make a point to return every fly to its box. Because the Delta is stationary and more permanently mounted, it gets a bit more leeway, and flies and tools have stayed put even on bumpy roads.

The Mag Grab Rod Rack frees up your hands and will even act as a hookkeeper.

Mag Grab Rod Rack

Cling’s newest innovation is the Mag Grab Rod Rack, a two piece system that keeps your rod secure during fly changes, fish releases, snack breaks, or those moments when you simply need both hands free. The rubber base straps to the rod butt, while the top magnet clips to your vest, pack, or waders. Bring them close, and they snap together cleanly. It is simple and surprisingly effective. Beyond rod holding, the rack adds features like a groove to help with threading tippet through small fly eyes and an eye cleaning needle for when that groove fails. There is even a slot for a temporary fly keeper.

Testing the Rod Rack while on a medium-size trout stream, it proved particularly useful when standing midriver with nowhere to set a rod, and more so untangling a backcast from a poorly located pine tree that required two hands to dislodge. I have not used the threading slot yet, mostly because I refuse to fish flies small enough to require it, but the eye cleaner has already proven quite handy. My only minor gripe is that the rod mounted segment can catch line during a shot, sometimes leading to wraparound. It is easy to pop off, but worth noting.

Strong Hold, Smart Design

Cling’s Mag Grab tools are well built, thoughtfully designed, and practical on the water. The machining is clean, the laser etching is sharp, and the color choices are subtle but well considered. More importantly, they provide reliable, accessible spots to keep flies, tools, and rods organized during rigging and resets.

Click here to explore the full line of Mag Grab tools and accessories.