Dredge tie offs

Sick4gold · Jul 22, 2013

How does everyone tie your dredge off?
I find that sometimes finding good tie off points are difficult and more than anything else I dislike untangling rope and then when I'm done dredging trying to Un-knot it and wind it up.
I've looked into recoiling rope jigs but everything isn't right or is too big and heavy.
I was thinking of large dog breed retractable leashes which are about 30 feet. I could disassemble them and mount one on each float.
This would eliminate the "Christmas light ball of rope" and make tieing up and untieing very quick.
Good idea or back to the drawing board?

G1sammons · Jul 22, 2013

I use boat anchors and boat winch on my 6"

And just anchors on my 4's
Works great no hassle

Hoser John · Jul 23, 2013

Amen as boat anchors with dog chains works just fine-pick up and run underwater in/out no hastles AND keeps tickets away and rafters/kayakers can't complain,whine and snivel---ooops sorry I forgot as they do anyway as OUR MERE PRESENCE DECIMATES THEIR EXPERIENCE according to testimonies...sic sic sic ..John

russau · Jul 23, 2013

for me, it depends on the stream/creek/river im working! for slow water i also use anchors,but for faster water i tie off to the closest points and i use 2 or 3 ropes to keep the drege in position. also on fast water, make sure your tie off point on the dredge is at a middel point or tied off low to keep the nose of the dredge hi in the water! tieing off hi on the dredge WILL make the dredge nosedive in fast water! BAD NEWS!

MikeMike · Jul 24, 2013

Rausso is right on.

Fullpan · Jul 24, 2013

I used a 5 gal bucket with a couple rocks in it, a rope to lasso the lock-downs at back of sluice box. It kept the dredge from "motorboating" forward, but still
able to drag forward by the diver. Worked great in most situations. (not good in deeper water as it tends to pull down on the
back end)

russau · Jul 24, 2013

i used to do the same as you but with the metal wire mesh milk crates untill i saw what they go fo to antique dealers!

Jason in Enid · Jul 24, 2013

I use milk crates. Just fill them up with river rocks and you have anchors. As for tying them off, you need to learn some rope skills. I can't teach you that from here.

jog · Jul 24, 2013

I use a spud pole, no ropes no anchors, no chains. I do tie off the dredge when it's not in use. Works great in smaller rivers and creeks up to 8' deep.

jcazgoldchaser · Jul 25, 2013

Jason in Enid said:
I use milk crates. Just fill them up with river rocks and you have anchors.

Just drill out a 5 gal bucket and it will stack with your other 5 gal buckets.

Jason in Enid said:
As for tying them off, you need to learn some rope skills. I can't teach you that from here.

I can:

Animated Knots by Grog | How to Tie Knots | Fishing, Boating, Climbing, Scouting, Search and Rescue, Household, Decorative, Rope Care,

And for everyone else that said 'what's a spud pole'?

bill-costa rica · Jul 25, 2013

as jog does i use a stiff leg or spud. also have the ability to also stiff leg the back. it works in fast or slow water and you can put your dredge where you want it and do it fast. i really don't like ropes, to me they are a pain in the ass. i have used still legs on a 5,8 and 10 inch dredge. so it works on all sizes.

bill/cr

Jason in Enid · Jul 26, 2013

jcazgoldchaser said:
Just drill out a 5 gal bucket and it will stack with your other 5 gal buckets.

I can:

Animated Knots by Grog | How to Tie Knots | Fishing, Boating, Climbing, Scouting, Search and Rescue, Household, Decorative, Rope Care,

/QUOTE]

Sweet link! It's in my favorites now.

russau · Jul 26, 2013

thankyou JC! i saved the addy in my list!

jcazgoldchaser · Jul 26, 2013

Jason in Enid said:
Sweet link! It's in my favorites now.

russau said:
thankyou JC! i saved the addy in my list!

One of the other scout leaders was showing me their tablet app for that Monday night. You could rotate the knots to look at it from all angles. I just can't believe how far that website has come!

I only use a couple knots most of the time. An overhand loop, taughtline, 1/2 hitches. Keeps s***...stuff in the bed of the truck and really, useful for most other things.

jog · Jul 26, 2013

Once you have used a spud pole you will wonder why you ever used ropes.

Hoser John · Jul 27, 2013

HUGE problem with spud poles on rivers fed by dams.Forks of the American,Yuba and many others will rise 5-8' in a matter of a few minutes and your dredge is gone forever. Seen a few go away never to be seen again,just a few pieces scattered on the bottom,broken pontoons on the banks is ugly sight-John

Sick4gold · Jul 27, 2013

I should take more time to manage my ropes properly but all I want to do is dredge.
I've had to tell myself to stop and eat/drink something on more than 1 occasion.
Awesome suggestions by the way!

On a random side note any one know what mesh a non-modified manufacturer dredge ( Keene/Proline ) should CONSISTENTLY catch assuming its run correctly?

Jason in Enid · Jul 27, 2013

Sick4gold said:
On a random side note any one know what mesh a non-modified manufacturer dredge ( Keene/Proline ) should CONSISTENTLY catch assuming its run correctly?

Depends on what speed of water you run and how flat your box is. Flatter and slower = more fine gold but you can't feed it fast or it packs up. I run about 85% - 90% throttle with a spacing bar to give my dredge MORE angle and I catch -100. How much -100 am I blowing out? I don't know because it's too hard to pan tailing for stuff that tiny. Sure it can be done, but I won't give up that much nozzle time.

Edit - that's on a keene 4 inch with stock over/under riffles

Hoser John · Jul 28, 2013

Blaster nozzle makes a HUGE :laughing7:

difference in fines retention. No more clay balls rolling through to pick up rocks and gold,no more cemented gravel clumps to block the flows and all they both contain is yours. A nice constant blasted feathery loose flow, and over under, is the best way to go. Add on a flared jet and BIG dampening curtain and it's yours. John