Done detecting and dredging
 

Ive done mostly dredging , found 60 ounces in my lifetime. and 1/2 oz in 1 nugget detecting with a gold bug.

I hope to take a year off work and dredge 1 season.

Any Pro dredgers here on GIM?

Re: Done detecting and dredging
 

Don't know about the "pro" but I do weekend prospecting and use a pan, hand sluice, power sluice, and 2.5" & 4" dredges as dictated by the environment, time, and the distance from the pickup & trailer. I prefer the 4" with air any time it's feasible to use it...no shovel and more dirt washed eh? The 4" is a Keene with a 3-stage box, 6.5 Honda, and air. No air on the 2.5" but it's great when there (even with a hole) isn't enough water to run the 4".

Re: Done detecting and dredging
 

The next thing on my list of needs is a High Banker. The state of Washington is not user friendly where it comes to dredging and the season they give is as little as one month is some areas I want to look. Also the water is never very much above freezing and I have no drysuit.
I am thinking the highbanker and some good areas where the creeks will not hinder my progress will be better. I talked to the Forest Service today about a claim if I find what I am looking for and they said no problem but I need to deal with the BLM. He said that is not a big deal either as long as I am staying out of the streams. The Salmon have lots of liberal friends in Olympia.:eek:

Re: Done detecting and dredging
 

Re: Done detecting and dredging
 

I did lot of digging with a metal detector still have my Whites 5900/D PRO
Payed like 550 for it think in 1996 or 95
i used it a lot found lot of silver coins with it, but I found it is easyer to buy them then look for them.
have not used it since 2001 just sitting in my closet collecting dust.
plan to use it again but when i have time.
found that best time to hit the beach is after a storm, did the bayside after a storm and found about 20 mercury dimes plus few v nickes was my best find in a day.
most time i would go out with it and find new change or one war nickel or silver dime that was it.
went to the park in monmouth battle ground off rte35 here in n.j.
found 17 musket balls from 1780s
some are flat some are round can not tell if there british or american.
also i was told if i ever went in that park again without permission i would get a 500 fine i did not know it was against the law to rellic hunt in there but now i know.