Did my first ever river hunt today and had lots of fun!

mr helton · May 10, 2014

I got an AT Pro this year, and my waterproof headphones yesterday, so I figured it was time to give it a try. Things went well and I had a lot of fun, but I need to figure out a good way to continue my metal detecting videos in the water. For not I put my phone in a bag but was too scared to take it out so I didn't record. I put my pro-pointer in a plastic bag until I design a watertight case, but honestly didn't really use it much. I went out in boots and jeans and just went in, going maybe 3.5-4 feet at the most, but the river doesn't get much deeper than that anyway. Right now I just use my shovel (think samson or something, but homemade). I used the shovel to push dirt aside until the signal moved, then I scooped up some dirt with it and pulled out the coin. It was sort of tedious but I don't know a better way in sandy/rocky soil like that.

I somehow managed to find all this despite my troubles. One of them is a wheat penny! I had a blast and will definitely be doing this on some hot days this summer. Oh and I was pretty shocked that the water was bearable for 3 hours this early in Michigan!

Pdr206 · May 10, 2014

Look up beau oimette and his river hunting videos. He shows how to wave away sediment, the heavy objects will usually stay in place.

A lot of people ive watched have siliconed the pointers, just an idea. As far as underwater, a gopro camera with waterproof casing is what ive seen used.

Nice finds, keep at it!

mr helton · May 10, 2014

Thanks man, him and nuggetnoggin actually convinced me to upgrade to an AT Pro and start hunting in the rivers. I did the hand wave thing too but must have done it too hard because it actually kept blowing my coins away lol

Old Dude · May 10, 2014

Congrats! I am waiting on a little warmer water myself. I have a river and many creeks to explore with my ATP. I have a kayak to get me to the many islands in the river, so I am thinking this is how most of my summer will be spent. Last year I found a sterling ring in a gravel bar with my old detector, so that sold me on a waterproof one. I also just bought a waterproof pinpointer, so I am set. Come on warm water! 8-)

shawninNY · May 10, 2014

I've never heard of anyone using a pinpointer in the water! Get a water scoop and make a floating sifter

Pdr206 · May 10, 2014

Good idea as well shawn! Have seen that done as well. Some of the scoops arent sturdy enough for gravel so be wary.

Old Dude · May 10, 2014

shawninNY said:
I've never heard of anyone using a pinpointer in the water! Get a water scoop and make a floating sifter

That would be great in silt or sand, but my area has a lot of bedrock and large gravel.

shawninNY · May 10, 2014

The large stainless scoops can handle gravel and rock just fine , I wouldn't use the mesh scoop without some serious reinforcement , I can imagine losing targets in the endless drop with just a shovel in 3' of water

beez0404 · May 10, 2014

Mr. Helton...........a company called Aryca makes waterproof cell phone cases that can go 6 meters deep. I use one for my Deus control box ($699 to replace) so I do trust it to work. I use the model WS12 which holds a phone up to 4.3" but they have many sizes. You can buy the bright yellow ones on Ebay for $13.00 and they float if you happen to drop them in the water.

Deleted member 54237 · May 10, 2014

This is a start. Keep it up.

mr helton said:
I got an AT Pro this year, and my waterproof headphones yesterday, so I figured it was time to give it a try. Things went well and I had a lot of fun, but I need to figure out a good way to continue my metal detecting videos in the water. For not I put my phone in a bag but was too scared to take it out so I didn't record. I put my pro-pointer in a plastic bag until I design a watertight case, but honestly didn't really use it much. I went out in boots and jeans and just went in, going maybe 3.5-4 feet at the most, but the river doesn't get much deeper than that anyway. Right now I just use my shovel (think samson or something, but homemade). I used the shovel to push dirt aside until the signal moved, then I scooped up some dirt with it and pulled out the coin. It was sort of tedious but I don't know a better way in sandy/rocky soil like that.

I somehow managed to find all this despite my troubles. One of them is a wheat penny! I had a blast and will definitely be doing this on some hot days this summer. Oh and I was pretty shocked that the water was bearable for 3 hours this early in Michigan!

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CASPER-2 · May 10, 2014

I river hunt now and then - in conditions similar to yours - get a good mask and snorkel - some good dive gloves - I use kevelar ones from Keene
zinc pennies fan away kind of easy but other coins will usually stay put if you use the right angle - I own a 2 piece wet suit - with a farmer john - it has padded knees - so i can comfortably kneel on the rocks when need be . I rarely use a scoop unless there is a sandy bottom or muck bottom - and i only bring my floating seive out to throw the junk in - you dump a load of larger rocks in there and it will sometimes flip it - so then your chasing targets twice - plus material filtering thru - will make visability bad sometimes - I'll send you some articles I wrote on water hunting - some may help

vpnavy · May 11, 2014

Great finds! Thanks for sharing...

CASPER-2 · May 11, 2014

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/members/29748-albums1590-picture821654.html
ME RIVER HUNTING
silver finds from a river hunt - one of those silver quarters was sandwhiched between 2 clad ones like an oreo wedge in the rocks
was cool when I fanned - and you could see the one with the silver rim inbetween 2 with brown rims - my buddy was hitting in the shallows and called him out to see it before I removed - he said "that's awesome" - it was just cool to find them that way - it was the 1964 one
http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/members/29748-albums1590-picture821652.html