Dry Sand Vs Water Hunting On Fresh Water Beaches

[Critterhunter]

Having spent most of my years land hunting for old coins and rings I've only water and dry beach hunted off and on here and there over the years. However, this year a friend finally convinced me to head off with him on many of his water hunts on the great lakes. I've got a GT so with it chest mounted and me being 6'2" tall I can easily get fairly deep in the water without much concern of getting the control box wet. I normaly got about as deep as my belly button but that's as far as I risk it.

Anyway, not really paying much attention to beach hunting theories over the years I've got a few quick questions for you fresh water hunters. First, have you noticed a certain zone or depth in the water where you seem to find most of your rings? Secondly, since fresh water beaches on the great lakes don't have the tide action of the oceans what is "dry" stays "dry" for the most part, meaning rings found in the dry sand probably weren't lost in the water. I'm curious if there is any special area you guys tend to have the most luck with on the dry sand? I'm guessing along the "beach blanket line" that most people tend to sit down at for one reason or another at a particular beach. It's an interesting thing in human nature to see just how many people tend to put their blankets roughly the same distance from the water line. Seems at least on the beaches I've been hitting that's about 20 to 50 feet from the water's edge.

Lastly, I'm curious about those of you who hunt the water as well as the dry sand. Have you noticed more rings come from one or the other for you? Thus far I've got rings both ways but I'd say my dry sand hunting has been more productive. I'd really like to hear your opinion on that as well as the above questions. Thanks for the input.

 

[hershey1]

Critter: My experience around fresh water beachs is that more people play with small children in waist deep and shallower resulting in my jewelry finds seem to increase in these areas. More football and frisbie throwing also resulting in more lost rings and chains. Now at salt water beachs you will find jewelry anywhere even though I prefer hunting in the water so most of my better finds come from there and avoid most of the crowds. Early morning and late evening hit the towel lines. That's my 2 cents. HH

 

[Bling]

i used to hunt Lake Erie ,a place called West Lake,west of Cleveland...i did quite well there with my Excal knee to neck deep.there are 4 beach's there divided by breaker rocks..almost 90% of my fresh water finds come from knee to neck deep in the water. good luck.

 

[grumpyolman]

I'm with hershey1 on this one. Maybe I am missing a lot more becaue I don't go deeper. The statement about parents playing with their kids in water up to waist deep is what I have experienced. Someday devote a few hours to just observing people on a fresh water beach. Where do 90% of the people spend 90% of their time? It's shallow with their kids, playing frisbee, wading and splashing others, etc. People are what 'seeds' the area for us to harvest. No people or fewer people the smaller the harvest.

Bling is the real hunter here. Knee deep to neck deep is not that much farther out into the water and I should probably give that a shot. Wear that inflatable PFD if you are working that deep. Also, if you attach things to you, do it with a quick release diving belt/buckle so one move can remove you from the equipment that would hamper your self rescue if you wander into a hole. The belts are nice and wide and easy to attach stuff to. They are not expensive either. jim

 

[Jadesun]

I work all areas of the beach.
I get most of my jewelry from the blanket area and during low tides.

 

[Critterhunter]

Thanks for the info everybody. Was helpful and confirmed a few things for me.