Gold creek claim Options

[johnnybravo300]

http://m.ebay.com/itm/PLACER-MINING-CLAIM-...6.c100408.m2460

I saw this claim for sale on eBay. Funny thing is there is no gold in that part of the creek. The placers were deposited below the mines which are all way downstream a good mile or so.

[johnnybravo300]

Yeah I just saw this and it caught my eye. I spend most of my winter digging at gold creek and I know it pretty well. I've seen similar type claims along cochetopa creek the same way. The claims for sale are usually where the placer deposits were minimal or even completely nonexistent!
I prospected a forfeited claim last spring along cochetopa creek to see what the deal was. I didn't know the details of why this claim was let go so if it was a good spot I wanted to know. I was ready to take it.
I spent most of the day testing anywhere I could find along the creek and along the banks where placers are usually found and got skunked all day.
I ended up digging a chest deep hole and even after it started filling with water I went as deep as I could for THREE of the tiniest specks I've ever seen. If there was gold worth mining there it was sure we'll hidden. Its not like they will allow a guy to dig the entire creek up for an oz of au anyway.
There are alot of these types of claims around summit county too. So many scammers trying to make a buck.

What worries me now is that the lower areas where I like to fart around will get claimed by these fools and it will ruin it for me. It's close and easy for me to go there during the winter when we're buried in snow but the gold isn't EPIC or anything. It's not a spot I'd want to quit my job over, but there is color in every pan. I use that area to get out and have easy fun in the winter and its a little worrisome to me.
The usgs reports show most of the best placers right at the confluence of gold and Ohio creeks and its all private property there in Ohio city. This winter id like to knock on some doors along the creek and see if anyone would let me in the creek on their property. I bet someone surely would and they may even be interested. I'll take chances on alot of no's for a possibility of a yes haha. It won't hurt my feelings. They won't shoot me for asking, at least I'd hope not.

I hadn't thought seriously about a claim at gold creek and now I'm wondering if I messed up? My idea of a legitimate claim has always been something that might at least pay for itself and possibly (eventually) for my time. With the work and dedication involved in staking and working a claim, I always thought to seek the richest ground I could find first would be the best idea. If I claimed every gold spot out there I'd be broke with not much to show for it. This is very frustrating.