Ok water hunters.....give me pointers on freshwater beach hunting. *no ocean*
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spez401
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the same principles apply to fresh and salt water... go at low tide, hit the cuts, look for obstructions... etc. Check out www.thegoldenolde.com. Best collection of useful tips regarding how to hunt a beach.
steve
steve
Ocaliman
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Re: Ok water hunters.....give me pointers on freshwater beach hunting. *no ocean
RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH!!! Look for lakes where people have congregated in the past, out of the way swimming holes, beaches, Scout camps, etc. Invest in a good long handled scoop that will take a bit of abuse. I recommend a one piece shaft on the scoop, as the two piece scoops have a tendency to bend at the connection, if you try to lift heavy water soaked sand.
Try to work a pattern if at all possible. I recommend getting 4 empty clothes detergent bottles, some cord, and a weight. Use these to make a set of floats. Put the first one where you are going to start your pattern, and the second one next to it approximately 4-5 feet parallel to it. At the other end of the search area, do the same thing. Basically, you have created a rectangle, if you were viewing it from above. Starting from your first buoy, begin detecting in a straight line towards the other end of the search area. When you hit that buoy, move it 4-5 feet to the other side of the buoy that is sitting next to it. Turn around and start searching your pattern back to the point of origin. When you get back to the original side, move your original buoy, so it is in line with the one you moved a few moments before. This may be a bit confusing, but if you think of it like mowing a lawn, and the buoys act like turn around points, you can leapfrog the markers down the line.
Example
--------------------------------------------Shoreline-----------------------------------------------------------------
*buoy 1 first pass ----> *buoy 3
*buoy 2 <---- second pass *buoy 4
*buoy 1 third pass ----> *buoy 3
*buoy 2 <---- fourth pass (and so on..) *buoy 4
Hope this helps you out...
RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH!!! Look for lakes where people have congregated in the past, out of the way swimming holes, beaches, Scout camps, etc. Invest in a good long handled scoop that will take a bit of abuse. I recommend a one piece shaft on the scoop, as the two piece scoops have a tendency to bend at the connection, if you try to lift heavy water soaked sand.
Try to work a pattern if at all possible. I recommend getting 4 empty clothes detergent bottles, some cord, and a weight. Use these to make a set of floats. Put the first one where you are going to start your pattern, and the second one next to it approximately 4-5 feet parallel to it. At the other end of the search area, do the same thing. Basically, you have created a rectangle, if you were viewing it from above. Starting from your first buoy, begin detecting in a straight line towards the other end of the search area. When you hit that buoy, move it 4-5 feet to the other side of the buoy that is sitting next to it. Turn around and start searching your pattern back to the point of origin. When you get back to the original side, move your original buoy, so it is in line with the one you moved a few moments before. This may be a bit confusing, but if you think of it like mowing a lawn, and the buoys act like turn around points, you can leapfrog the markers down the line.
Example
--------------------------------------------Shoreline-----------------------------------------------------------------
*buoy 1 first pass ----> *buoy 3
*buoy 2 <---- second pass *buoy 4
*buoy 1 third pass ----> *buoy 3
*buoy 2 <---- fourth pass (and so on..) *buoy 4
Hope this helps you out...
Now I'm confused 
LOL just kidding, OM is right, work patterns, work below diving areas, swings, below flowing platforms, and the beach. Object is to get the coil over the target. Look at what you would do if you were swimming there. Usually patterns is your best bet, fresh or ocean.
In MI not a problem, down here in FL you also smart to look for gators, and sharks, anything that goes bump could be bigger then you and hungry.
OM, you search the lakes in Florida, you ever hunt the gator holes for jewelry?
LOL just kidding, OM is right, work patterns, work below diving areas, swings, below flowing platforms, and the beach. Object is to get the coil over the target. Look at what you would do if you were swimming there. Usually patterns is your best bet, fresh or ocean.
In MI not a problem, down here in FL you also smart to look for gators, and sharks, anything that goes bump could be bigger then you and hungry.
OM, you search the lakes in Florida, you ever hunt the gator holes for jewelry?
Ocaliman
Full Member
I would... but am afraid that the ring signal that I would dig out of there would still have the hand attached to it..
mumszie
Silver Member
Ocaliman said:I would... but am afraid that the ring signal that I would dig out of there would still have the hand attached to it..
That is funny. I think about that when digging and I find a ring.... and think I'm glad a finger wasn't still in it!
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Matt.....Best advice I can give you ........"BE THE EARLY BIRD"!!!
There is alot of competition out there.When there is a busy day at the beach,....go while the people are there or shortly after.I often hunt at night ...its cool and peaceful.Pick up a headband light and practice your pinpointing and, of course....dig everything.....Joe
There is alot of competition out there.When there is a busy day at the beach,....go while the people are there or shortly after.I often hunt at night ...its cool and peaceful.Pick up a headband light and practice your pinpointing and, of course....dig everything.....Joe
Ocaliman
Full Member
Re: Ok water hunters.....give me pointers on freshwater beach hunting. *no ocean
I have a Beachhunter ID as well, although I don't use it as much as my Excal. If you do run your ID with the discrimination up, you run the risk of missing small gold rings and nickels, as they fall into the same disc. range as pulltabs. Until you get the feel of the machine, you can run some disc. on it, but you will leave some treasure "on the table" when you walk away at the end of your hunt.
Also, if you plan on hunting in the water with this machine, I would try to find a weighted shaft for it. It seems that Whites has yet to figure out that it is a bit tough to keep the search coil on the bottom of the lake, when the coil is positively buoyant. One thing that you can do is, go to your local diveshop and purchase a 2 lb. soft weight for a weightbelt. Take that and some plastic tie wraps, and ziptie the weight approx. halfway up the shaft. This should help you keep the coil on the bottom without too much trouble.
I have a Beachhunter ID as well, although I don't use it as much as my Excal. If you do run your ID with the discrimination up, you run the risk of missing small gold rings and nickels, as they fall into the same disc. range as pulltabs. Until you get the feel of the machine, you can run some disc. on it, but you will leave some treasure "on the table" when you walk away at the end of your hunt.
Also, if you plan on hunting in the water with this machine, I would try to find a weighted shaft for it. It seems that Whites has yet to figure out that it is a bit tough to keep the search coil on the bottom of the lake, when the coil is positively buoyant. One thing that you can do is, go to your local diveshop and purchase a 2 lb. soft weight for a weightbelt. Take that and some plastic tie wraps, and ziptie the weight approx. halfway up the shaft. This should help you keep the coil on the bottom without too much trouble.
If it was me, I would use at least a little disc, the BHID is good, with the LEDs it makes it easier and even though your young, you may not enjoy digging every bobbypin and lead fishing sinker that has been lost since the dawn of time.
You can buy a weight or make a weight for the coil by using a bean bag or small sock with sand. I got use to the coil and after awhile it didn't really bother me. Once I bought my Excal the BHID became my backup and my land machine. I am now looking at getting a new Sov GT with the 15" WOT coil to add to the Excal for my beach hunting arsenal. I'm jealous of all the others "bringing home the gold".
You can buy a weight or make a weight for the coil by using a bean bag or small sock with sand. I got use to the coil and after awhile it didn't really bother me. Once I bought my Excal the BHID became my backup and my land machine. I am now looking at getting a new Sov GT with the 15" WOT coil to add to the Excal for my beach hunting arsenal. I'm jealous of all the others "bringing home the gold".
dfxmatt
Sr. Member
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Thread Owner
I plan on putting the discrimination in the p position which i guess is good in most situations according to the handbook.
I have bought a coil stabilizer as well, do you think i will still need it to be weighted? The coil stabilizer keeps the coil in one place at all times.
I have bought a coil stabilizer as well, do you think i will still need it to be weighted? The coil stabilizer keeps the coil in one place at all times.
Some do, some don't, it's up to you. You can always just take a sock and put sand in it and use tie wrap or velcro if you find it's needed. I never needed the weight, but did use the stablizer. Good luck.
spez401
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The coil stabilizer is great when working in the surf... waves tend to move the position of the coil after time. The only reason you'd need a weight for the coil is if you plan on going IN the water. There is no need for it on dry land (and it just adds weight).
steve
steve
kaptainkosmic
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FLauthor
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Go to the county tax offices for any county that has lake shores. Ask for the old Government Survey Plats and examine them for old resorts, steamboat docks, ect. this will gaurantee you some virgin sites that no one else has searched to death.
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