Tigershark at the lake

[JoeinMemphis]

I went to the local fresh water lake Saturday for 4 hours, the hits were few and far between. NO money, a .22 bullet, a shotgun primer, some foil and the obligatory pull tabs. Oh and 2 ear rings! The flowery one says OZ 925 on the back. The small targets are killing me, they fall through the holes in the scoop. I am going to have to get some screen and fix the problem.

 

[kaptainkosmic]

Joe i started using a sifter this year, man what a differance it makes. it almost completely eliminates the time spent looking for targets. small targets like split shot sinkers and earrings magically appear after soaking in sifter for a couple of minutes in sandy bottom lakes. and where there is gravel i use a vibra probe to quickly find the same small stuff. you don't have to shake medium around, which encourages small targets to find a hole. i use a pretty heavy scoop which would wear me down after a couple of hours, now i just throw it in the sifter which is connected to my belt and move on. the sifter easily floats, multiple scoops of medium, the scoop, the detector, the vibra probe and me if need be.
the only place that it has casued any problems is in large waves 2-4' close to shore where they're breaking in lake michigan. on smaller inland lakes you hardly know its there! i've attached a picture of the sifter that i use. hope this helps. steve

 

[waterhunter]

The problem is getting the 22 shorts, broken beads, etc to stay in the scoop long enough to get them in the sifter. I had those things.

 

[JoeinMemphis]

n/t

 

[JoeinMemphis]

YEA, the water here isnt clear or when I realized it was falling through the scoop I could just go down there and fan some sand out of the way ( this worked at first till people started "frolicking" and stirring up the sand )
HH
Joe

 

[kaptainkosmic]

i was in lake michigan for 5 hrs. sunday afernoon. every target that i scooped made it to the sifter bar none. one was a small hoop earing
and there were several small split shot. i am convinced that had i shook my scoop around looking for any of these small targets they would have made it through the holes (.437) in the scoop and would have had to be re-scooped multiple times or abandoned. on everyone of the small targets i dug i got them on the first scoop and found them in the bottom of the sifter later, with absolutely no time or energy spent shaking the 7# scoop with 15# of lake bottom in it. for me there's no going back. just not having to carry the darn scoop is reason enough, to say nothing of having a plastic trash bag, drink of water & place to hang the vibra probe away from the detector (it drives my cz-20 crazy when its on!

have a great day & hh!!!!!!

 

[normdiver]

I have several scoops I made for use with my PI machine with 1/4 inch holes in it. Its hard to shake out but it catches them pesky little items. Also we use a floating sifter, 2 1/2 in pvc pipe in a square with 1/4 plastic hardware cloth zip tied to it. Nothing on it to sound off and works great at the bay beach or calm water. Draw back is its one more item to carry.

 

[cubfan64]

[quote kaptainkosmic]...just not having to carry the darn scoop is reason enough...[/quote]

kaptain - I'm not sure I'm clear, you do have to still carry the scoop correct? The only difference is you just dump everything into the sifter rather than shake the scoop in the water right?

 

[JoeinMemphis]

I am glad you said 1/4 inch. I just went out and got some galvanized 1/4" screen mesh to attach to the inside of the scoop to try and solve the elusive earing problem. Also picked up a strong magnet to stick in the bottom, and some nylon cord to attach the thing to me... I'll keep you posted.
HH
Joe

 

[kaptainkosmic]

don't have to carry the scoop anymore i just throw it in the sifter.
i can hunt twice as long now.

 

[kaptainkosmic]

i have 1 of those $1 clips on the end of the rope that I attach to my belt. i use that same clip to snap into a loop right on the sifter and then snap that to my scoop to carry it on my shoulder. works real good for me. i'll get some pics and attach them.

 

[the Swede]

This post started quite a while ago...
...has anyone some recent experience using a sifter?

Must be a great relief not having to carry a heavy stainless sandscoop around for hours.

 

[bottlebum]

The sifter works in conjunction with the scoop. Still have to carry the scoop..........

 

[R-n-R Magnolia SpringsAla]

2 fun noodles, 1 dish strainer, wire ties

 

[hipshote28]

I made this after big cat daddy an skillet had theirs i can also attach my scoop to it with another clip to drag around .Works great

 

[kaptainkosmic]

I transport sifter to water buy clipping to scoop and setting scoop on shoulder. its basically hands free.

[attachment 100457 straighthandledscoopwithsifteronshoulderresized.jpg]

the only time i carry scoop now is neck deep water. otherwise its in the sifter and i hold onto handle to drag sifter around. sifter is attached to belt with 6' rope also, so don't have to keep tabs on it.

[attachment 100458 scoopsifterampvibraproberesized.jpg]

this is how easy it is to pick targets out when bottom is sandy.

[attachment 100459 sifterwithtoeringandclad1resized.jpg]

if gravely then i use vibra probe.

hh steve

 

[Mirco]

I am glad you said 1/4 inch. I just went out and got some galvanized 1/4" screen mesh to attach to the inside of the scoop to try and solve the elusive earing problem. Also picked up a strong magnet to stick in the bottom, and some nylon cord to attach the thing to me... I'll keep you posted.
HH
Joe

Kidding?

Most gold ear studs go through 1/4 `` EASY!