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Need Ideas. Can I find targets in this situation?

F

Flyguy

New member
I have an Excal 2/ 800 and have permission to hunt an old swimming hole that was active from 1918 until 1948. The high dive platform is still standng but the slide is now gone. The bottom of the swimming area was covered with gravel when the lake was built (1917) but now has about 4"- 6" of sludge/mud on the bottom (on top of the gravel) where the good stuff is, I'm sure - locals tell me of stuff lost there, never found, never humted. What great possibilities!!!! Here's another problem: when moving through the water, or moving my 8" loop, silt comes up obscuring everying. Vis is about 1" - really - can't see a thing.
I'm wondering, first, if my loop is large enough to get through the mud and have a footprint large enough to find anything. So far, pretty skimpy. Q: Do I need a larger loop? Would a 14" WOT be a good option or wqould a 10" loop do the trick?? I need all the advice I can get - and thanks for your ideas.
Jim
 
When I hunt in the water, I don't even worry about visibility... I just go by sound... Go slow and gird the area.....
 
The answer to your question is yes, I would swing slow and steady with my 8" coil, then when I hit a target and pinpoint it, move my foot up to the back of the coil to locate it. this is the starting point for the scoop. After the first scoop I would recheck the spot and dig again if missed. This works for me in dark water. Try to use other senses in the water not just the eyes, you will have to feel your way when digging. Once you are used to doing it, the targets are easier to locate and recover. I also run the detector in all metal to locate deeper coins that may not pickup in discrimination mode, switching over to disc after to see if it is good or not. A good scoop makes all the difference when digging.
 
Allot of the time I hunt in the blind, you can not see a foot in the water. With practice and a good scoop getting your target will become second nature. Sounds like a great place to hunt just take your time and go slow. I would dig all targets, clean it out as you go. Good luck and HH
 
I'm wondering about how adequate an 8" loop is on top of 5-6" of mud before I get to the gravel layer where the targets should be. Would a larger coil be worth the investment here? A 10" or even 14" DD Coilteck? I really appreciate these ideas.
Flyguy
 
I have an Excal 1000 10" coil. I hunt in fresh water rivers and lakes in Fl. I have found plenty of targets 12" to 16" deep in mud and silt. Some of the other guys and gals on this site have 8" coils, sometimes it takes a few days before you get some of them to answer. I am off the site for days on end at times. HH
 
You forgot to mention the location of the swimming hole. Thats when I come in to help. Hope its close to Charlotte, NC. Gold Rings 8 Silver Rings-6 and 123 coins in one evening. goldnugget-Charlotte,N C- Maybe a contract is needed for you to keep the finds
 
Sounds like a great place to Hunt. I have both the 8 & 10 Excal and found that both would have no problem hitting the depth you need. I have found more rings and chains with my 8 inch. The 10 inch, I hunt Allmetal with it most of the time and get a few more inchs out of it. I think you are fine with the 8 in, it may take a little longer but like heath said swing slow and try allmetal plus magicmans grid the area is great advice. The 10 is worth only a few more inchs....check out this link Detector depth test HH OBN
 
Flyguy, I am going to say that installing a larger coil would be a disadvantage in the conditions you described. For one thing, they are harder to control in deeper water and the separation of the smaller coil should work to your advantage, ESPECIALLY in fresh water, where there is very little degration of ferrous iron. In my limited experience hunting fresh water, I was AMAZED at the quantity of nails out there, as compared to salt water hunting. Stick with what you got, I believe it is a winner, you may want to try some all-metal hunting, to get some better depth, as cjc says that "30% gains can be obtained using allmetal in fresh water".

When you stick your scoop into the silt, can you feel the gravel at some point, or is it just soft and no bottom to it? If you can feel the scoop hit the gravel layer, you are in a REAL bonanza there. Keep us posted, will ya?
 
You guys have really boosted my confidence... this may work after all - Excal 8" coil and all!! When digging I do get down to the gravel and it's as hard as, wel-l-l-l-l, rock. Everything stops at the gravel that was laid down in 1917. I sink into the mud to the gravel, my scoop stops at the gravel - it's seems to be a tough lake bottom so stuff should be there.. will keep you posted. I'm going to hunt in pin point from here on out. The high dive (still standing) and swing (now gone) are/were in 8-10' water. I was certified scuba years ago but will need to get renewed for those parts of the lake. The "detector depth test" web site referenced by Gulf Hunter is excellent. Wish they had included White's BH.
Grateful thanks for all these ideas and encouragement!
Flyguy (in upper Alabama)
 
MUD SUCKS! I've got a watering hole with compact sand and a foot of mud over it. It's a site that has been used since the tun of the century. There is loads of stuff and trash there. I tried wading the Excal 8" on top of the mud with no good results. Pressing the Excal in the mud only makes for a too difficult swing. Found one silver quarter. I brought a 4" dredge in and that was taking forever. I came back several years later and with a Excal 2 10" and a new refreshed attitude tried it and again and gave up. My advice is try and try again and then move on if you cannot figure it our. MUD Sucks!
 
Hey, Landman, I think there is a lot of wisdom in your advice! I've about come to the same conclusions but hated to admit I'm a failure at this site - and I'm sure there's so much stuff there. But all you say totally mirrors my experience. It may be time to move on to better pickin's. Thanks!
Flyguy
 
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