South Fork American Gold

[Aufisher]

Hiked a couple hours upstream from Folsom lake. All pan and crevice work. Gold in every pan!

 

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[Sample Pan Dan]

Good looking chunky stuff!

 

[MinerFortyNiner1952]

Yeah, that would make me smile. Good finding.

 

[medic7a]

Most black sand i have ever dealt with is in that stretch.

 

[Aufisher]

Thanks to Mad Marshall for the inspiration!

 

[chris rizin]

When were up that way? Hike up river from salmon falls bridge? I ran into a couple guys hiking out from that direction Friday I think it was..

 

[Aufisher]

Yep! Went last Saturday and this Sat. Enjoy before its under water soon! I only got one pan last Saturday but it was rich (for this place anyway).

 

[Jeff95531]

Yep! Went last Saturday and this Sat. Enjoy before its under water soon! I only got one pan last Saturday but it was rich (for this place anyway). View attachment 904131

What you have in that pan is what I have to show for the year so far. Like you say, it was good for the area. Should be much better next year thanks to you guys here. Well done and thanks for sharing!

 

[Aufisher]

They were chunky! One was folded like a taco and I had a hard time sucking it into the snuffer. One nice wire pice too!

 

[rawdog]

They were chunky! One was folded like a taco and I had a hard time sucking it into the snuffer. One nice wire pice too!

I was up there first week of may..not a soul up there (weekday) worked a hole in sight of 15 minute parking zone (parked for 2 hrs) with my trusty 17 bar and got gold like you got way upstream from the surface to about 2 1/2 feet down till i hit the clay. Then id move over.. I want to go back with trust letrap sluice..but the tradeoff is I cant haul that bar too far upriver...i hear theres a good sluice flow half a mile upstream from parking lot on gravel bar...gonna go up with my 55 gallon drum (half) and tear that **** up. I feel like I could get a couple pennyweight a day up there in the right spot.

 

[Armchair prospector]

Getting off the beaten path is the way. How far did you travel upstream? 1 to 2 mi.?

 

[Herby D]

Nice post Aufisher..It's been years since I've been there..just curious, what equipment/method did you use? I know you said pan and crevice work..Cool

 

[Aufisher]

 

[goldenmojo]

I was up there first week of may..not a soul up there (weekday) worked a hole in sight of 15 minute parking zone (parked for 2 hrs) with my trusty 17 bar and got gold like you got way upstream from the surface to about 2 1/2 feet down till i hit the clay. Then id move over.. I want to go back with trust letrap sluice..but the tradeoff is I cant haul that bar too far upriver...i hear theres a good sluice flow half a mile upstream from parking lot on gravel bar...gonna go up with my 55 gallon drum (half) and tear that **** up. I feel like I could get a couple pennyweight a day up there in the right spot.

1/2 mile up is a bar in a wide spot in the canyon. It pinches on both ends of the canyon and looks like a giant bowl, hence I call it the bowl. The sluice area is underwater right now from the push back of the lake. It will re-emerge when the lake gets down below 400 feet and gets very good as it goes lower. Weekend crowds then but still plenty of color. If you park on the south side of the bridge in the dirt it's free parking. Good Luck.

American - Folsom Lake Elevation

 

[goldenmojo]

This pic is from upstream at the pinch point. The bar is at that rock peeking out of the water in the middle. It's a large boulder that rests on the bar.

 

[Herby D]

Cool....thanks

Most important two letter word sentence.. "If it is to be, it is up to me"

 

[Sample Pan Dan]

We got good color from a spot about a mile from the bridge. Tough walking in over all the rock, but well worth it. Thanks again Mojo

 

[Chewyspark]

Is this open to the public? Meaning, are there no claims to worry about? On the S. Fork ?

 

[Aufisher]

This area near Salmon Falls bridge is open. Best gold is about an hours hike up river from the bridge.

 

[Chewyspark]

Hey guys

Been researching like a mad man before headig out and I think I finally pinpointed where I want to go.
And that's a place called Magnolia ranch trailhead.
I was just curious if any of you have tried the area before and also if I'm misunderstanding that this section ofthe river is recreational and open to public for panning
Any who thanks for all the info you guys pas along on this site.