Old Swimming Hole Advice

[togamac]

I've been looking at old area maps and have picked out several ponds and spots on streams which I imagine would've been great for swimming before the swimming pools came along. The stream has a rocky bottom; the ponds probably mud. Any of you out there hunted such environs before?
I've got an AT-Pro and have the Super Sniper coil and am thinking that would probably work the best on the stream bottom. As far as the muddy ponds I'm thinking the scoop of course. I'm just worried about getting stuck in the mud!!

 

[mudpuppy]

You are thinking right..now get down in there and let the detector confirm your suspicions...don't worry about leeches or nettles or snakes and turtles or any of that stuff...get in there and wallow around..you find the right spot, and you could be into a honey hole of epic proportions!
Mud

 

[bootyhoundpa]

yes, you are thinking right...saftey first is a must....at the very least i would take some sort of floatation device with.....if at any time things start getting dicey-then get out.... chances are if the bottom isnt safe for wading now then it probably wasnt back in the day either.and therefore wouldnt be any good anyway.....as far as the pond or mud bottom might want to poke a long pole into the bottom well out in front of you so you have an idea what the bottom is like prior to actually getting there.... wearfoot protection....good luck.. be safe....

 

[John(Tx)]

you can sink pretty fast. Use flotation incase you get in trouble. I have hunted areas where I would sink about halfway between my ankles and knees, not a good feeling. If you sink deep then probably not that great to hunt, items will be too deep for machine. Just use common sense and good luck. HH

 

[togamac]

Thanks guys. Flotation it will be. A long-long time ago I SCUBAd and had a vest that would inflate with the pull of a lanyard. I'm thinking I'll try to find one of those if they're still around.

 

[Water wizard]

Let us know how you get on, good luck

 

[Rainyday101]

In those situations I just wear a fishing vest over my waders and have no problem getting chest deep with it on. This works just fine and will keep you safe. If it is real mucky don't waste your time it was probably the same way back when. Look for spots on rivers, especially any place they had or still have an old tire or rope swing. Talk to old timers about where they swam when they were kids. If you are and old timer then just talk to yourself! Just kidding! Let us know how it goes and always error on the safe side. If it doesn't look safe, it's probably not.

Good Luck!