What do I need to get started shallow water hunting?

[88junior]

I am looking at doing slow moving shallow rivers and freshwater beach hunting. I have a AT-Gold that should fit the bill for detecting. What else do you guys recommend I need. I know two things I need is a set of water proof headphones and a decent scoop. Let me know what else I need. Thanks

 

[bob.oz]

Scoop is about it. Just get one suitable for the places you plan to hunt. If you have lots of rocks in the rivers you need a tuff/sturdy one.
shoes for the water...neoprene ankle boots with hard soles are a good combo, but for fresh water a pair of tennis shoes would work.
Deep pockets like cargo shorts or a good finds pouch and your ready to go...... Good Luck

 

[mudpuppy]

Yeah, what Bob said...just a scoop and your AtGold is good enough to start...some footwear depending on where you are hunting....the majority of my time I'm barefoot, just to give you an idea, it all depends on the location, theres a few places I would not go in without some sort of shoes on (too much busted glass)....it also takes a bit of practice to learn how to run a scoop, so go to the easiest and sandiest place first to practice....heavy rock is a real B...

If you do go barefoot, which is the easiest and fastest, keep a tube of Superglue handy...if you step on a bottle bottom, immediately sit down and hold the fresh cut tight together and cover the surface with a good squirt, Do NOT squirt it down inside the wound!...just on the surface!... Then cover over that with a piece of masking tape..if you can do this quick enough, you will suffer no ill effects and make it back to your car...just something to think about and be prepared for is all...theres a lot of busted glass in the water.....

Full disclosure: I stepped on a broken bottle bottom barefoot with a kayak over my shoulder a few years back...good thing I had my superglue and tape in the back of my truck which was right there in @ two hops from the shore!...I dropped the 'yak, as you can imagine, in one fluid motion, I took off my tee shirt and put it over my foot, hopped up to my truck and sat down on the tailgate, took care of the wound with the glue and tape and kept right on doing what I was doing, had a great weekend with no pain, swelling, or infection!!

A week later, you could not even see the injury..yes, Superglue works for clean cuts if you get to them quick and use it right... Just get a scoop and wear shoes I guess for starters, forget about the whole superglue thing....and dig all signals.
Mud.

 

[dewcon4414]

Id highly recomment a pair of hard bottom dive boots........ depending on the bottom you may want to make a sifter. Dont buy a cheap scoop.

Dew

 

[pasttom]

Just a thought on water newbie life. Rinse all each time after you are done. Sea water has lots of micro life as does fresh and they will die and smell if left to it. Also sea water is salt corrosive so it will eat your equipment (coil cable, stc.) slowly, but surely. I find so much nasty rusty, sharp metal detecting that I don't think about the glass so much. Also don't go cheap on the scoop, it will cost you more in the long term.
HH!

 

[88junior]

Ok thanks for the info guys!!

 

[ajaj]

Yup, what they stated above. A "lifesaver" for me has been the Garrett AT Pro Pointer. Been using it on land for about 2 months, and, for the last week, underwater. Wow is all I can say. It has greatly helped my water hunting, but won't add too much if you are hunting all sand beaches. I do recommend it for rivers and attaching it to a small bungee cord to your satchel.

aj

 

[charlie dert]

I like felt bottom shoes..they grip the slippery rocks..gives you great footing..find them where fishing waders are sold..