Monday goodies...

[Anonymous]

Well, the weather is starting to look better, so I decided to do some more searching at my old swimming hole. Laurie came with me, and got some pictures of me doing my thing.

Ok, we're here, and it's time to suit up:
<center> <img src=http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/3186/allensuitingup1dl.jpg> </center> <p>
61 degrees out, so no jacket needed.

Here's a shot of me doing my thing:
<center> <img src=http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/5696/allenwaterhunting0gm.jpg> </center> <p>
And one of me checking a target. I can't remember what it was, either an oddly-shaped piece of iron, or some lead:
<center> <img src=http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/7025/allencheckingtarget0jn.jpg> </center> <p>
I was recovering Wheat's left and right. At one point, I was near the stairway leading into the water, and received a blast of sound through my headphones. I pinpointed the target, and scooped. I dumped the load into my sifter, and turned to fill the hole in. When I turned back, I still had a mound of material in the sifter, so I started shaking it to sift it through. I saw a large metallic disk tumble up and then back down. I was thinking "Silver Dollar" or "Double Eagle". However, when I spread the loose gravel and shells out, this is what I saw:
<center> <img src=http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/8039/taginsifter7zz.jpg> </center> <p>
It's marked "A.H.S. 93". I'm pretty sure that it's from a nearby high school, and was probably used as a tag for the bath house at this site.

After a few hours, mother nature called for both Laurie and myself, so we left in search of facilities. Here's the whole nut:
<center> <img src=http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/4215/20060410nut9sp.jpg> </center> <p>
53 cents in clad, 11 Wheat's dated ‘27, ‘28, ‘40, ‘40D, two ‘44’s, ‘45D, ‘47, 50, ‘53D, ‘55D; ’43P War Nickel, 5 keys, two pieces of lead, two halves of a “Pinto” cap gun, one watch w/o band, and the brass tag.

The War Nickel was unexpected. I was working on recovering a mid-tone target on my CZ-20. I pinpointed it, scooped, and then started sifting the material through my sifter. I found a Wheat right off the bat. Well, there are only two ways a Wheat is going to give a mid-tone signal, A) Heavily corroded and crusty, and B) co-located with Nickel. This Wheat was not crusty and corroded, so I immediately started looking for a Nickel. Sure enough, it was also in my sifter. I got to looking at it, and realized I had another War Nickel, a '43P. Ironically, I found another War Nickel, same date and mint, last week. Go figure. Here's the cleaned-up image:
<center> <img src=http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/9629/20060410warnick5ci.jpg> </center> <p>

Note: the picture(s) might not show up due to bandwidth limitations. If the picture(s) are not there, check back at a later time.

 

[David from Suffolk]

n/t

 

[Goldinwater]

Where do you get those gloves

 

[GraveDiggerMax-VaBch-Va]

some waves

that sifter deal is nice toooo, be nice to be able to use one of thoses here.

i had those excact waderes not long ago, but with summer coming, i cut the top off and just use the boot up to the top of my thigh, kinda like hip boots...........that boy is a warm set of waders. most everyone around here uses a different style

nice nut too

good luck

 

[Anonymous]

I know Cabela's sells them, but I can't remember where I bought them. Just google "Trapper's Gloves" and check the prices and qualities of them different brands/models. These were originally designed for modern fur trappers to reach into freezing cold water to set and retrieve beaver/muskrat traps.

HH from Allen in MI

 

[Anonymous]

The water at this spot is just warm enough for me to not get chilled after several hours. However, getting in the water at the local lakes, which are around 50 degrees right now, is COLD! I can only last about an hour, and that's with several layers of clothes under the waders.

 

[Gulf Hunter]

Bet that hole's never been searched with the wheats & all. Think there may still be a lot more work to do at this location. When the water warms to a tolerable temp you need to get r done! I could of used your sifter yesterday at the lake I hunted. Those don't work real well in the surf where I usually hunt. Keep us posted Allen!

 

[Steve in PR]

n/t

 

[Anonymous]

I started running a pattern, across the stream, from bank to bank, starting at the bridge, working my way upstream. I've made maybe 8' away from the bridge. I haven't tried under the bridge, as I'll have to stoop or squat in the water to do that, so I'll wait until the water warms up. I also want to do downstream of the bridge. Not to mention in the millpond as much as I can, but I'm not sure how deep it is, or how mucky/silty.

That spot where you see me in the water is actually the head of a mill-race. There's another mill-race about 20' behind the camera POV. I want to search that one as well.

I would really like to search the grassy area behind me in those photos. There was a bath house there somewhere ahead of me, and I can just imagine how many older coins are in the dirt. The only problem is that's property of a private school, so I'd have to get permission.

I imagine just covering as much area as I can, in the water, will take most of the swimming season. Of course, there are other beaches I want to search, so this will give me something to fall back on.

 

[Jamie(MI)]

put this together. Thanks