Any tips on first time with long handle scoop?

[digsumthng]

I'm taking my Excal ll out tomorrow and have never used a scoop in the water. Any tips on how to go from finding the target
to scooping it up. I was playing with it in my wife's flower bed but i could see what i was doing.

 

[Craig-PI]

If your in the water and you get a signal place your foot behind your coil that should be over the target and then place your scoop in front of your foot as you move your coil away.. you will need to perfect this as many times the water will be murky and you won't be able to see your coil anyway...

 

[Cupajo]

Hi Dig,

Center the loop over the signal, place your wader toe against the rear (Your Side!!) of the loop and pull the loop away from where you are about to dig, place your scoop against your toe centered on where the loop was located and dig up your target.

Pull the scoop away and check the hole with your loop to see if you got the target. If not (There is still a signal in the hole!!) dump the scoop to one side of your excavation, check the pile you just dumped for a signal in case there is more than one target in the hole. Take another scoop full and check again etc.,etc!!!

Never walk away without checking all the waste from your digging!!! I'm convinced that I've retrieved rings that were left by someone who did just that. (Dug them up, lost track of them and walked away!!!)

I have had several targets in one hole over the years and on two occasions two gold rings in one hole!!! (once two in my scoop!!)

I hope this answers your question and if not feel free to E-mail me for clarification or elaboration.

GL&HH Friend,

Cupajo

(No one gets 'em all, but I'm workin on it!!!)

 

[digsumthng]

n/t

 

[R-n-R Magnolia SpringsAla]

;~) These guys are 100% correct!! I do it the same way. WEAR dive boots, ya haven't lived till ya bang your bare toe with the scoop. Also recovering targets can get real interesting when you have the current/ waves to deal with.

Go jump in a lake!

R-n-R

 

[rdi]

digsumthng...there are many different methods used..this is how I do it using my Excal,it may or may not work for you,but should give you an idea which you may modify to suit your needs...With a dd coil, I use the heel of the coil to locate the target by wiggling the coil forward until I lose the signal and then wiggling the coil back towards me until the signal is heard again....at this point I hold the coil against the sand,I bring my right foot so that it touches the back of the coil,move the coil and with my left hand bring my scoop to the toe of my right foot,once the scoop is in place....I use my left hand on the handle and my right foot to push the scoop in....I slide my left hand down the handle some,use my left leg as a lever and lift the scoop out to the left,put my right foot in the hole to keep my place,with my right hand still on the shaft, I run the coil over the hole to see if I got the target....if so, I release the shaft and coil and use both hands to retrieve the target from the scoop. The shaft is tethered to me to prevent cable damage. Many people use the side of their foot as a marker for the scoop,also push their scoop with their left foot instead of their right.
I hope I haven't totally confused you with this explanation....it's much easier to show you than to tell you..I'm sure others will do a better job when they post.....good luck...rdi

 

[Chi Town Bruce]

dump your scoop near the hole, this way your able to use your foot side to back fill.

Why bother??? Keep it cool with Civilians & Life Guards, you'll see why when stepping in a crater and your teeth slap together or your spine take a sudden jolt!
Worst yet, a 4 year walks knee deep and suddenly disappears. Yes, the surf will take care of holes........eventually.

 

[PaPa-Joe-Fla.]

You have all the information that I would have given. Don't get discouraged in a few hunts it will be second nature to you. You will get where you will do it automatically without thinking about it. Even in the water I try to cover my holes if the surf doesn't wash them full. Good luck. HH

 

[scubadetector]

Surf? Wheres the surf!! Anyway, All good advice. I rarely use a scoop and I do it the same way as Craig. Yes check your piles and refill those holes!! Good luck.

 

[digsumthng]

The nice little stroll i thought i was going to go on wasn't do nice . the waves where rough and swinging the excal seemed like swinging a small tree. I bet i dig or scooped holes large enough to put a small chubby child into. I was getting really frustrated. I remember thinking to myself this sux!!!!. I just couldn't seem to scoop the target up. I would find something dig and dig and dig. I did finally did up a small fishing weight and then a burnt aluminum can . nothing like trying to pinpoint a target and almost get knocked off your feet. But my favorite part was the targets that were there and then gone the next second.

I was almost to the point of launching my excal out to sea. After a small break and good old fashion cigarette i started to get the feel for it. I just keep thinking about the advice i received from you guys and hung in there. I think with a little more practice I'll have it down.

Thanks again for all the advice it surely help me out.

 

[Craig-PI]

Digs... practice in a bay or find a depression in the sand that has water in it.. or just practice in the wet sand like you are in the water.. its gets second nature after a while