A powered articulated magnetic fishing tool having one or more knuckle or ball joints and a magnet to retrieve fish from a subterranean well and methods of retrieving the metallic object using the fishing tool. The fishing tool includes a magnet and one or more powered joints. The powered joints may each include or be coupled to a multi-axis position sensor that indicates the orientation of the joint and associated section downhole from the joint. The fishing tool may include a camera and a light located at the magnet end of the fishing tool. A system may include a human interface console located at the surface to control the fishing tool.