Sniping

[sidvail]

Any tips for sniping?

I took a mask and snorkle on my last trip to the NF of American River. My first view underwater just blew me away. WOW! And the first piece of bedrock I looked at? A beautiful picker wedged in a crack barely 18 inches under water. Have to say, my focus went from panning to sniping that quick. And of course, I found not another one for the next 4 hours. Did not deter me in the least. I'm hooked. That was the most fun I've had in a long long time.

The view underwater was just awesome - a completely new world. The videos I've watched did not do justice to what you actually see and feel. All I think about now is swimming around underwater and picking gold off the bedrock - LOL.

So, any tips or tools or caveats to keep in mind?

 

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[gold tramp]

Can you post a picture for me? I'm having a hard time envisioning what this would be...

don't have one but I would bet that Reed Lukens is the man that could.

its basically a sucker old school.
I think they make one out of PVC.

 

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[Alex Burke]

Can you post a picture for me? I'm having a hard time envisioning what this would be...

Here's a link that describes them with pics and how to make them.
http://www.berms.com/Gold_Nugget_Scope.htm
Unless they were talking about something else...

 

[KevinInColorado]

No, that's not it...

 

[Alex Burke]

Okay sorry

 

[rodoconnor]

Ear Beer. 1/2 isoproply alocohol 1/2 vinegar.

 

[sidvail]

So just flush your ears after sniping for a while?

 

[Fullpan]

After some thought, I don't believe you will have a problem, being a "weekender". The precautions for ear infections need to be taken only if you spend, like
20 + hours/week underwater. However, if you develop an itching in the ear, a bottle of swimmers ear (less than 5 dollars) should clear it up.

 

[Fullpan]

Hey, I just stumbled on this site - have any of you super-snipers/boulder movers ever tried the battery powered winch?

Warn Industries - PullzAll Rescue Kit

 

[rockygulchJoe]

'Underwater Sniping for GOLD'
by Sam Radding and Jim Garlock is a awesome little book that can be had at most mining shops. It shows all the tools of the trade and has some good tips and techniques, it also has maps of lots of open areas to mine.

Happy hunting to all !

 

[63bkpkr]

Sidvail,
A question about your picture @ Euchre Bar, is it down river from the bridge?

The NF of the NF of the American comes in just upriver from the bridge and in years gone by the Nf of the NF was heavily dredged/claimed and had baby rattlesnakes on it.

There are some heavy duty hard rock mines up river from the bridge, I believe they are part of the Dorer Ranch Patent Mining Claims. They are an amazing study in "what places miners go to find gold". There were wood ladders that stretched way up into a roof crack/vein and continued on out of flashlight range, crazy wicked work!

Grease Gun, actually an Oil sucking gun that was shaped the same as a Grease gun. Can be modified for high volume sucking by adding a 1/8" plumbing pipe to the suction hole on the inside of the suction gun, the water and heavies come in, spill over the top of the pipe and become trapped at the head of the pump. It is an all metal Automotive Tool and is therefore heavy and likely only a fool like me would throw it into his backpack and go camping with it. You might have to find it at garage sales at least to have a body the same diameter as a high volume "grease gun size", that's where I found mine and NO I've Never taken it backpacking, yet.

The sniping or at least swimming with a face mask and looking around in something like the NFAR is SOOOOOOOO Much fun as you found. Up river from the Euchre Bar Bridge are some solid rock channels And there are or were years ago some 4' long White fish in there. An interesting place! Did you hike in from the Alta side or the Foresthill side?

Have fun.........................63bkpkr

Oh, I've rafted the NFAR 4 times starting just down river from the Euchre Bar bridge. Do Not try it at any flow rate above 200 cfs! From Euchre Bar to Green Valley the Gorge is fairly reasonable w/o water falls, Ummm several years ago, however from Green Valley to Pickering Bar it is one mean fast moving hunk of water with canyon walls straight up for a few thousand feet above you and some very large boulders in the way to warp a raft around, not good! If you want more info on how to do this let me know.

 

[sidvail]

63 - That picture was upstream from the bridge. Matter of fact, it shows the confluence of NF and NF of NF. I was swimming around right below the picture there.

And that was one of the coolest things I noticed - the fish. WOW! I could see forever and the landscape underwater is just awesome. Could even see the current due to bubbles, debris, etc. I'm telling you - I was fascinated. Little fish swimming around. LOL. I want to scuba now.

It was a terrible trip overall because someone stole my backpack with everything in it the next morning. I was moving camp and left it there at the bridge while I looked around for a new spot - shame on me. Came back and found it gone. Luckily I still had my wallet and phone on me - so I hiked back to the top and into Alta to call a ride. Did not see anyone on the way up and there were no cars up at Iron Point - so figured they went up Forresthill side, or maybe off into the woods. It will be awhile before I can resupply and get back out there.

Still, the sniping and that little picker made my day and I'll trade that experience for the backpack and call it good. I hope they really needed it and will put my pans, tools and snorkel to good use.

 

[63bkpkr]

63 - That picture was upstream from the bridge. Matter of fact, it shows the confluence of NF and NF of NF. I was swimming around right below the picture there.

Ok, I can now make out the split with the NF NF on the left! Man that place has changed!!

And that was one of the coolest things I noticed - the fish. WOW! I could see forever and the landscape underwater is just awesome. Could even see the current due to bubbles, debris, etc. I'm telling you - I was fascinated. Little fish swimming around. LOL. I want to scuba now.

Yes I have always been spellbound while diving in NorCal streams! Upriver from your picture I once found a huge belt driven wheel in the river, cool stuff!

It was a terrible trip overall because someone stole my backpack with everything in it the next morning. I was moving camp and left it there at the bridge while I looked around for a new spot - shame on me. Came back and found it gone. Luckily I still had my wallet and phone on me - so I hiked back to the top and into Alta to call a ride. Did not see anyone on the way up and there were no cars up at Iron Point - so figured they went up Forresthill side, or maybe off into the woods. It will be awhile before I can resupply and get back out there.

Oh, that is Terrible! I've never been bothered by 'People' in the canyon and it would not be good to do anything like that to me!!

Still, the sniping and that little picker made my day and I'll trade that experience for the backpack and call it good. I hope they really needed it and will put my pans, tools and snorkel to good use.

You know it is odd when folks steal things like that as likely they will use them later on and to depend on something that may be needed to save your life but have bad Karma attached to it is not smart. Your positive outlook on the situation is the right way to take the experience.................63bkpkr

 

[CharlesP]

I went sniping today with EagleDown. I struck out but had the time of my life. I love being under the water. I must have seen 50 small mouth bass some ranging up to 5 pounds. The fish were following me around all day eating the critters under the rock I was flipping. Any one ever sniped the Merced river?

 

[63bkpkr]

Are you sure those "fish" were not politicians watching to see if you disturbed the frogs? Oh, that's right you said they were small mouth not large mouth so, they could have been Greenie folks. And no I've never had the pleasure to snipe in the Merced, sounds like you had a good time though!!.....................63bkpkr

 

[Sample Pan Dan]

Guess I could call this one my first picker.
<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=823937"/>
Found at Euchre Bar
<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=823938"/>

I call that a nugget, brother!