Winter is long and the digging gets so limited around here that I was thinking of hitting a few of the landings along the Taylor or Gunnison rivers?
We have tons of rafting traffic all summer and I'm sure a few of them might lose some jewelry getting in and out of the rafts? That's when it seems to happen.
I have a cheapy f2 that I got used but I can set it to detect gold (pull tabs) and silver (quarters and dimes?)
Hopefully any actual pull tabs have blown away with the other light trash, but that would at least set me to the right targets. I wouldn't be trying to dig every target while standing in freezing water in my waders. Only the select targets. Gold and silver jewelry of course a few pull tabs hehe.

I was reading about beach hunting along the coasts so it made me think of our "beaches" along the rivers. Has anyone detected areas like this with any luck?
I would be limited to working in the water since the dry ground would be frozen but there could be things just off shore in shallow water.
In cold water fingers and wrists shrink, necklaces can be caught in life vests and paddles by unwary oblivious tourists...I'm just tossing a bone here....what do you think?

Ok now I have access to a long handled perforated scoop. The water will be freezing so that may save me the cost of a dry suit!
I attach a rifle sling to the f2 to keep it secure while I'm fishing out all the treasures. I hope that works.
Any ideas or experience out there? I'm also trying to think of any speciality tools needed.
My nugget sucker tube would probably suck up jewelry or a coin. A bucket might be a good idea to have. Whatever makes the job easier and faster I would try. A shovel and pick of course.
I should probably figure out a way to leash everything also with 550 cord so Im not out there trying to locate my lost stuff and looking like an idiot.
I will have to figure this all out but if I can just keep my waders from filling up and dragging me away I'll be happy.



I'm having shoulder surgery tomorrow morning so this is something I can do when I go in twice a week for physical therapy. I will already be in town for that so I'll just take all my crap and go afterwards. Maybe this time I will go more than twice! What a waste of my time.

With the low water over the winter you may have some luck if you can find spots that aren't frozen over or ground that isn't too hard to dig. Might be a better adventure for early spring before the run off starts but after the ice melts. Hope you heal up quick from the shoulder surgery!

Well so much for that idea. I'll be in this sling for six weeks I guess. The last thing I need is a slip and fall with hip waders and a gimp arm. My life is on pause for now. The treasures will have to wait!

Been there, done that. Sucks to be tied up, but would suck worse to make it worse by pushing it. Spend your down time researching new places to go with your new shoulder!! :)

Yeah it's a bummer but what's worse is my wallet was stolen while I was in surgery. They gave me my clothes back in the bag they supplied minus my wallet. Really sucks!

OK wallet is found. Somehow it ended up in one of the boots I wore that day and I haven't worn them since. I pulled them out the other day to donate and lo and behold! I was really having a hard time thinking they would steal from a patient that is trusting them with their life.
I think I was so high and my wife had to undress me, or maybe it slipped out of my pocket haha.
Took the f2 to the only thawed landing on the Gunnison river today. Scored a few pull tabs, two rusty nails and one single 1977D penney.
Shoulder is pretty sore after digging and panning yesterday and todays escapades but it sure feels good using it more again and this is what it needs to loosen up.

I've been looking into this a lot recently. Especially with daylight savings time and the long afternoon, I have 4-6 hours of daylight minimum after work 3 days a week. Bought my whites treasure pro last year and had a blast with it on dry ground. I've spent the last 2 weeks on drives home from working looking for old farms) structures that would have been around for 100 years or better. I'm hoping I can find some landowners who would let me go peruse with my whites. Also, I've recently been watching a YouTube adventurer named nuggetnoggin and he does a lot of water detecting back east......All that to say I have a bad itch that needs a hard scratching.