Is there a nack to water detecting?

[Steve from Ohio]

I just started, after 19 years, to water detect. I like being in the water when it is hot out. Much better than land detecting when it is 90 degrees out!

I have a floating sifter made from an old round life preserver with fiberglass pet screen. That really works well.

I also have a pretty good long handled scoop. My problem is that recovery is taking a long time. Seems I just don't have the knack yet to scoop where the scoopins are good. I use my foot to mark the spot but it seems that it takes way too long to bring up anything.

Will I get better as time goes on? I want to be fairly proficient by January when I'll be in Florida in the surf on the Gulf Coast.

A few questions.

1. Is there any tips on how to scoop so that I don't take so darned long to bring things up?

2. In the ocean, is using a floating sifter going to be a problem with the waves ?

3. Is fresh water lake detecting different than detecting in the ocean? (How do you deal with waves?)

4. How do you keep from losing your scoop? I tied a rope to mine but the rope gets in the way quite often. Do you tie it to a belt or to the floating sifter which is tied to me?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[mtpockets]

Hey Steve,

I'll try to help out some here for ya..



I use an Excalibur.. When I locate a target.. "I try" to pinpoint bye using the Top of the Coil... Then Where I think the target is I place my
Right foot next to the Coil as a Marker....
Move the Coil away.. Then bring my scoop to where my foot is and start scooping from mid way from where my foot was....

This can be Challenging at times depending on how active the surf is...

I've tried to recover targets for as much as 20mins... being hammered by the Surf.. and know of others that have spent the same amount of time
trying to recover a target.... One of my Hunting partners Say's If you cannot recover the target within 10 scoops.. Then Move on...

I agree... If the Targets are good.... But If the targets are few and Farrr between.. I don't care about spending the xtra effort & time trying to recover..
A Good Target....
Just Never know what it'll be... Why Find out..That another hunter recovered a Beauty right where you gave up..


Sifter: I think a Sifter would be good on Very Calm days or while working a Lagoon... Otherwise I think it will get battered around by the surf..

Fresh/Saltwater:

I hunt both... Fresh is Calmer then saltwater.. Targets in Freshwater may be Shallower at times "Depending" You can run
Lower Sensitivity in Fresh water..
Fresh water.. you can hunt the good area's at all times of the day.. No High/Low Tides to Calculate.. Marine Life is friendlier in fresh "Depending" Gators..


Scoop:

I was going to Tether my Scoop to my Belt.. But decided against it.. I do Tether My detector to my Belt... I figured.. That If I Lost my scoop I* could always find it with either my detector...
Or by The "Crying" person that is leaving the Surf with a big Bruise on their leg...

I just hold the Scoop with my left hand and Zone out !!!

Here's what my Belt looks Like..

I'll have to take another picture to show how I have it Tethered...

Hope this Helps a Lil...

I'm sure several others will Chime in to help ya out..

PS..

After buying my Excalibur.. I haven't used my Explorer Much at all.. *** Looks to Left,Right & Behind me** I've even though about selling My Explorer
setup... But I do like the Best of Both worlds of Detecting....

I've detected in Vegas, Arizona....Countless times .. in the Middle of the Summer... and Still would Rather Hunt their then Here in Florida
in the Summer....

As everyone say's Its a Different type of Heat... LOL ... Thats true... I'd Rather Hunt 110 degress in Nv,Az then 80 in Fl.. on Land that is..


With a Wet/DrySuit you can Water Hunt pretty much All year round.. get a jump on the Seasonal guy's..

Safe & HH

 

[Kyle in Sac]

My scoop is one of those big aluminum rigs that cost $160. I don't really hunt too much fresh water and I don't use a floating sifter or anything because the waves would make it too hard to detect. I have my hands full with my machine and my other hand holding my scoop. When those waves come in sometimes I get knocked down and I run into the same problems you have with scooping up the targets. I use my foot then try to scoop then a wave knocks me out then I go back, etc.. I don't know if that helps but that's my problem too.

 

[mtpockets]

Here's a few more shots of how I have my Excalibur tethered.. Works perfectly for me..

 

[beernutz]

Here's a few more shots of how I have my Excalibur tethered.. Works perfectly for me..

Where on your belt do the grappling gun and night-vision goggles go?

 

[pastyman]

That's a very nice belt, can't find any like that over here in uk, what sort of money are they?

Dazzer

 

[Cupajo]

GEEZE,

I had to tie cords to mine to hang stuff and hook other stuff onto!!!

Whereja get that belt??? And does it come in double extra large???

Cupajo

 

[Maui Mike]

O.K. add me to the "Where did you get that belt from list" I would buy one today! did you add the knife?.. good idea, not just for cutting snags and stuff in the water, but also.. keeping the wolves away..know what i mean?..shaka Mikey

 

[mtpockets]

Sorry guy's I was At Daytona Bch,Fl for the Weekend...

This belt is made buy a Surf Fisherman


I can't post the Link here... So Do WWW . huntersurfcastinggear . Co m

or HunterGear . Co


This is an Awesome belt... He used to sell the Knives with the coiled lanyards But being that fishing season is fast approaching he's cutting
down on inventory..

You can Buy the Knife.... Leisure Pro Wenoka Squeeze Titanium.. Not the Big Squeeze... I opted for the Stiletto tip.. But the Tanto is nice too

Double Edged Knife.... Just so you know... They may be Illegal in some states...


Jimmy... "Hunter" Also Customizes Belts as well....

CUPAJO : He has large sizes... I think he has a size chart on his page... Their very Adjustable..

The D-rings are Velcro Backed This way theirs no Sliding around on the Belt..

 

[beernutz]

For anyone considering buying these the web belt is around $50 +S&H and the Leisure Pro knife w/ tanto blade is also ~$50 +S&H. I didn't price the D rings because just the belt is already out of my price range but both it and the knife do look very cool.

 

[mtpockets]

You may want to check out the Bianchi 7200 Duty Belt.. It's a little cheaper.. But you get what you pay for..I'm sure it will hold up
for a good long while... I've also heard of a brand named "Uncle Mikes" I think that's the name.. it's cheaper as well...

But... It's not Rated for the Water...

Also... The Belt that I have .. Has a Stiff reinforced center... Meaning that It will not Fold or Flap over on you when you add accessories to it..

For me It's worth the Investment... I will use it for Fishing and MDing... 1 ring paid for it.. so no Money out of pocket for me really.

I'm very pleased with the Setup..

I haven't totally pimped it out yet but......

I do plan on placing 2 grommets on the Back.... In-case I want to try to Waist mount..... Although I'm thinking I will not be happy waist mounting...
Just because it would be difficult to reach my Controls....


The other Universal aspect of this Will be Chest Mounting...

Home Depot carries a Set Of Suspenders for $14.00 That will allow me to to chest mount my Excalibur Via D-Rings from Suspenders to Belt

Easily attached and Removed...

Now I no this isn't for everyone... But It works for me... And I can Still use every part of this setup for individual different uses..


Steve:
I Totally apologise for kinda hijacking this thread in anyway... It wasn't intentional.. I'm just trying to explain different options for Ya..

 

[bdahunter]

If I get into trouble in the water I want to always have the option of dumping gear and saving my skin. I can always buy more gear but I only have this one life.
When hunting in the ocean surf always face the waves and always keep one eye on the waves. If you fail to do this then you will eventually get bowled over by a rogue wave, it's not a question of if you'll get bowled over just when it will happen to you. This can hurt big time and if you land on your equipment it can be expensive as well.
Pinpointing for me is a matter of practice and if you develop a consistent swing it becomes second nature to put the scoop where the target is. Dig facing the waves so a) you don't get caught by a rogue wave and b) the wave action will push the target and sand into the bottom of your scoop instead of spilling it off the side of the scoop mouth. Dig deep and use the foce of the backwash to help you push the scoop deep into the sand, wait until the next wave is coming in to pull the scoop free of the sand so that the current pushes the sand and target into the back of the scoop. If you pull the scoop up cleanly with a bit of a jerk at the end you will tip the target into the bottom of the scoop.
That's the basics on scooping and ocean hunting is very different from lake hunting when Mother Ocean is in a foul mood.

Good Hunting to you,

BDA