Best First Sluice Box of 2016

[Goldfleks]

Hi guys,

What's your thoughts on a good first sluice box?

I DIY myself a rain gutter sluice, and caught some lead fishing lures, so I know it sorta works, but I'm concerned my fines are blowing out, plus the volume it runs is so low that my production is awful.

I was thinking of the Le Trap as a good into box but figured I'd come here and ask if anything has changed in the last few years in the ~$100 range I should be aware of?

Thanks!

 

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[Aufisher]

Get a Bazooka!

 

[motohed]

I would look at the Gold Hog stream sluice and the Bazooka sluice . I'm new but I have done research and both are the best in my opinion . I habe purchased both , also the Gold Hog first and the Bazooka second

 

[motohed]

Oh , and welcome too the forum by the way .

 

[wildminer]

If I only had $100 to spend I would go with the Le Trap, but if you can spend a little more go with the bazooka. I've seen some nice hibankers and clean up sluices made with the Le Trap that you could use it for later on if you desired, but in the meantime they are also a great stream sluice with classified material. Good luck with your decision!

 

[Goldfleks]

Seems like the bazookas are all the rage these days so it's worth dumping in an extra 50 since I'm already $100 in.

Something like the sniper would be a good place to start if I went that direction?

 

[Aufisher]

A sniper for backpacking and a prospector for easy to get to spots or higher production would be ideal.

 

[Goldfleks]

OK so from the users of bazookas, what's the differences between the various sizes of bazookas in a given category?

I don't mind spending money, but it's difficult to understand the difference between the various sizes in a given category on the bazooka website.

 

[goldenmojo]

If I had $105 to spend I would get a Bazooka Supermini but only if I was interested in shoveling directly into the box and collecting gold faster than any other sluicing method. Yes you have to dump it more often and yes you don't get to see the gold glittering in the riffles it being stashed away below deck in the fluid bed, but you can collect more gold quicker, trade that in and move up to a bigger Bazooka and more production. Whatever you get good luck in your gold getting pursuits.

 

[goldenmojo]

Goldfleks you got a post in while i was writing the other one. The difference for me is the Supermini is small only 24" long and light weight. It can be used to sample and despite what people say you can clobber it material. It has a small trap so I dump mine after 10 gallons of material. If you set your cradle right it is no big deal but you lose shovel time. The sniper is an enlarged supermini with a bigger trap. You can shovel much longer and they come in longer sizes yet lightweight and portable and can dump into your pan. The prospectors are wider and two people can shovel a good long day into them and they should be dumped into a 5 gallon bucket. They need more flow. The differences in the models are the differences in how you are going to use them. I have 4 of them now and they all catch gold well and are easy to use. Just remember a sluice is not a gold finder it it a gold processor. The Bazookas classify the material and leave you with a trap of black sand and small heavies and gold. The length of the sluice in any of the models gives you better breakup of the material. With my supermini being only 24" I sometimes toss the material upstream on the deck of it as it gives it more time to break up. Hope this has helped. Feel free to ask any questions.

 

[KevinInColorado]

Best equipment depends on the conditions of where you'll be digging. Where are you based and what conditions will you be in?

Also how fit are you? Got enough endurance to make a Prospector worth it?

 

[jcazgoldchaser]

Well good sir, it just so happens you are in luck. I have exactly what you need at a highly discounted price. It will require a bit of elbow grease but it manages your shoveling and sluicing all in one shot...



Yours today, in for a mere million dollars (US). If you'd let me know how you'd like to pay and when you can pick it up....

Ran when parked...

 

[Goldfleks]

Ha-ha, I'm not ready to be the Dredge Pirate Roberts just yet.

And Kevin, from the sounds of it the Prospector is a bit much for my current needs at this time, I'm really only running a couple buckets before the, "can we go I'm bored" kicks in from the other one.

East fork San Gabriel so have some low flow conditions, hopefully we'll get some rain this year.

 

[GoldpannerDave]

Ha-ha, I'm not ready to be the Dredge Pirate Roberts just yet.

And Kevin, from the sounds of it the Prospector is a bit much for my current needs at this time, I'm really only running a couple buckets before the, "can we go I'm bored" kicks in from the other one.

East fork San Gabriel so have some low flow conditions, hopefully we'll get some rain this year.

With low flow, go with the 30" Sniper.

 

[goldenmojo]

Yes a 30" sniper is Ideal for the East Fork. There is plenty of flow to run it.

 

[Aufisher]

30" Sniper is on my Valentines list!

 

[HMiller]

30" sniper is on my birthday list for next month. Hope my kids and my wife come through.

 

[dvdtharaldson]

I recently bought a 30 inch prospector and I love it as much my dog. I have heard a lot of people buy smaller models only to find that they really wanted a larger sluice. I set up my prospector in a stream that was less than a foot deep and it worked fine. In my opinion the set-up was very forgiving, clean ups were easy, and the sluice dramatically increased production.
Best Colors,
dvdt

 

[goldenmojo]

After reading this page of posts I am itchy all over to get out and set up my sniper. The water levels were super high this last week and covered up a good spot I just found so if the water is right the river pays this Friday.

 

[Sample Pan Dan]

After reading this page of posts I am itchy all over to get out and set up my sniper. The water levels were super high this last week and covered up a good spot I just found so if the water is right the river pays this Friday.

That itch is poison oak... ;-)