Gerry in Idaho

I've heard stories of this legend of a gold hound man but was never a pleasure to meet him. Yes another of Northern Nevada Legend's who is swinging better golden pastures "the Smokey Baird" mentioned him to me a few times. Others, 2 pound Dick, a regular at the T & A, knew and spoke of him also. T-Bone, Jim Malone and Sue Thompson- now Sallee, were all well known big gold grabbers back in the 90's. In fact, the last time I was down Jungo Road, I swung by the T-Bone Memorial on the tracks near Pronto. I was fortunate back then as Largo (great Boise guy) took me down and introduced me to many of them. Back then a VLF machine was able to do well and getting 1 ounce weekends was not unheard of. Old Chuck Graff and his wife from TX spent the summers down there and boy did he have a collection. Jim Malone owned "Lunker Hill" and many 1+ oz'ers with a few monsters came off that knob. My 1st instructor on VLF gold machines, the famous "Gordon Zahara" who taught me at the Rye Patch burn barrel where I still train customers (some 20+ yrs later) and find a few nuggets, was also swinging the desert asphalt and eluvium fans forming from the high slopes working down across the desert floor. Lunk became a good friend of Smokey and luckily towards the end was able to hear some of the great stories probably mentioned in the Ben Thompson writings. If you ever decide to sell that piece of history Dave, please let me know. Nice find BTW and thanks for sharing some old memories.

That's what I'm talking about right there. Love those "crusty black discs". Fantastic saves Rob and thanks for sharing. Hope to see more of your finds on here too.

Reading what Steve and NE posted about VET's makes me realize the difference in cultures and the change we have had in the US. It is funny when I speak with some of my customers about a VET discount. A few of them are ashamed and prefer to not even let folks know. Others are proud of their service and you can see it on their sleeve or the truck they drive. I guess that is part of the freedom of America. As for the newer trend, I see many businesses promoting Military Discounts, Veterans Day Promotions and other saving to military. I know we are getting a little off detecting topic so if you feel this post needs removed Steve, I do understand. One recent VET discount I just found out.. was a great deal for me is with Verizon. My current plan allows for a 15% Military discount and my new plan gets me a flat $35 off each months bill. They also offer a discount for First Responders (even non military). As for the FREE 19" coil for USA purchasers of a new GPZ-7000, I also recall a year ago that Australia was running a similar ad and we did not get the same one here in US. I had a couple customers purchase from Australia just for the free coil.

I'm still reading posts for little bits of CA Beach Hunting tips, listening to those who actually make finds and learning what I can from this helpful forum. Yet to do a Beach Hunt on CA., but one of these times I'm going to hop a plane for a few days and try it out. Problem is trying to figure out which beach has the cut and when it will happen as trying to get a last minute flight can get expensive. Tim, I actually fished the Eel River for salmon back in the 70's. That river has had some major floods with serious earth movement back in the 60's. Thanks for updating your save. Thanks for putting my dreams to rest guys and I will have to go back to dreaming big gold in tailing piles and where I feel the next one will come from. As for my easy breath strapless leather chaps, those are tolerable. It is the holster that packs my 6 shooter you need to worry about.

Love the videos and finds. How you were able to videotape that cow pissing on the Barber made me realize, I need to quit putting my finds in mouth. I need to get some "newbie juice" as you call it and I am most certain the salty shivers will go away.

Very nice save TMox. Please give us the story with that Seated save. Key Date coin too (low mintage 80K) makes it even more desirable.

As a military Veteran myself (USMC) and one who did not know where my DD-214 was, I've learned where and how to get it. There are also other forms of ID that Gerry's Detectors will accept and get you the 15% discount. Each state is a little different but for those who are not sure, call me for details. This is a fantastic dollar amount of savings on higher end detectors (15%) and right now combining the VET $1200 savings and a FREE $1500 19" coil on the GPZ-7000, plus the 3 Days of Field Training we offer...what better way to enjoy ones retirement or getting all your toys purchased for those golden years. Even the very popular Equinox 800 (true multi purpose detector) allows a VET a $135 savings. And don't forget the FREE "Metal Detector Basics Class" I offer to all general purpose and multi use detector sales. 1st class is Saturday March 16th, provided the snow has melted.

Those are two find sterling rings. Love the design of the red stone ring.

That is one of the prettiest ladies I've seen in quite some time. She has a nice patina and detail too. Thanks for sharing.

I'm a little disappointed in the lack of West Coast Beach Hunter finds. I see the whole coast line getting slammed with storm after storm and high winds. Is this not the PRIME TIME to be out there swinging exposed layers of gravels and hard-pan? I know there has to be crusty black discs (silver coins) and the gimmer of gold beneath the coil. Show us you mighty few & faithful... as we inlanders are snowed in and football season is over. I know there has to be a select handful of hardcore detector abusers out there willing to brave the sharks. I've got me new CA style cowboy boots on and Equinox packed ready to go if the invite comes?

When I do my water hunts, my machine is usually submerged 8 to 10 hours a day as I prefer to hunt 2' to 5' deep of water. I am usually in the waves and getting the detector tossed around with fine sand particles in every crack/crevice imaginable and then some I should not include pics of. I see many other folks walk the water line with most not even getting their control box wet or getting it wet on an occasion. The videos of CA beach hunters are hardly getting the machines wet, so I assume their units will be much cleaner. I do enjoy watching them dig old silver and gold in wet sand after a nice 4 to 6' cut from a storm. I image this last month has been golden for them with all the storms back to back.

Minelab has 100% Waterproof headphones as an accessory. They are $149 and I have used them many times. Yes they screw right into the back of the Equinox. There are other brands and models out there for different situations but I have not tried them. I do have the Minelab 100% Waterproof headphones in stock. The 14K gold ring with a gold Krugerrand coin was found by one of my staff members on the last water hunt we did. He used his EQ-600 and the Minelab 100% waterproof headphones.

I actually took in an EQ-600 that I'll offer for $550. Has less than 10 hrs use and comes with 2+ yrs of transferable warranty. I spoke with your wife and she said...you owe her BIG BLING. I said the EQ-600 will help make that happen.

Nice rings and heart. The Compadre was one of the best little "turn on and go" machines out there. Put on a Clean Sweep coil and you are doing some serious cleaning of the surface targets, with exact pin point to boot. Thanks for sharing.

Good point on taking it apart on occasion and not every time. With me (in Idaho) I do not get to the beaches but 2 or 3 times a year, so my every time is actually limited. Someone who hunts the beaches weekly will now know what to look for. Another point I will mention as more than a couple of my customers have done this. I have guys in Hawaii, West Coast and East Coast who own both the EQ-600 and EQ-800. They use the less expensive EQ-600 in the salt water as their #1 Beach/Water unit and keep the 800 as their #1 primary land detector. Plus any trips they go on, they now have 2 units with identical parts to change out in case of an issue with shaft, coil, arm cuff, control box etc. Being prepared is much easier with 2 like machines on a big trip.

Heck yea come on down. Be sure and take a few extra days to hunt after the class.

USA Dealer are not allowed to ship outside of the US as per our contract.

Glad you were able to stop in and visit. It was a joy to share my detecting shop and some treasure finds with you. Hopefully we can get together again some time and chase down some Au. I wish you luck in your future endeavors. Thanks for helping White's get back on track and I hope they continue.

I wanted to update some of you who do not take your handles apart. I mean the handle grip that has the control pod attached. If you detect in salt water like I do, then you'll end up with fine sand particles between the upper and lower handle pieces at the mold seams. This is expected so don't freak out and it is still 100% waterproof. But what you may not realize is the salt in there is not good for it and needs to be rinsed/washed. I personally take mine apart after each trip I do, as I know how corrosive salt is to metal. Good luck on your next hunt.

Bruce, I fly with my 600 & 800 all the time. I usually take the handle with control box off just to make sure everything in the bags are packed inline. Have never had an EQ leak yet and most of my hunting is in the water. Now on a side note, be sure to clean the sand out of your handle when done doing your hunt. Good luck.

I'm offering it (Gerry's Metal Detectors) and you still get the 3 days field training at Rye Patch, NV for free. Plus I even offer the 15% military discount to those who qualify and the normal discount to repeat loyal customers.

I took a group of eager dreamer diggers (swinging wide fast and wild) the last year they ran commercial groups and one of the memories came on the last day. Most of us had broke our detectors down and packed them away for flights out of camp. One of my Field Staff Experts (we'll call him Spencer) was not about to give in so easily. Anyway, Spencer is in front of camp and we sees he's been at one hole for quite some time and picked down a foot+ in a hole. Eventually, he's walking back to get a long handled, deep gold digger shovel... with a sly grin and hope. Well it gets my interest, so I walk out there expecting to see him sweat out another piece of tailing trash...as many of us had done. He commence digging another foot+ and finally has the thing out of the hole. Trying to locate an almost 1 pound mini boulder in a pile of rocks with a GPX and monster sized coil at close distance is certainly an ear cleaner...most certain. Ended up being...you know how it usually goes, but not so fast my friend.... it's time to break out the gin.

I had actually commented/pics some photos of finds on anothers post that was similar, but realized I did not want to steal his thunder. In my part of the country our lakes draw down each Winter/Spring to make room for the up and coming Spring/Summer runoff. This allows for some detectable areas though maybe not as perfect as beaches. Well when you live 500+ miles from the Coast you learn to adapt and find opportunities some others don't think of. Here is a quick story of a trip to a well known high country lake thousands visit each year. I was heading to NV to do our 1st of the year 3 days Field Training Trip on Gold Detectors. Sometimes I like heading down 3 days to a week early to get some time alone. Not that I do not enjoy detecting with others, as those who know me, will fess.. I actually prefer enjoying a swing with other like minded seekers. (hints the 3 days training we offer) This allows me a variety of accomplishments if desired. Sometimes testing a new model of detector, or coil. Other occasions I could be actually Prospecting for new areas and greener pastures for future hunts. Or I usually end up seeking an early coin/trinket from the trashy rustic RR stops along my course there, even though I have hunted them many times over. Getting down to Rye Patch and not feeling it (got to have the gut feeling it is the right site), I drove on past and kept the truck/trailer heading West on I-80. Lake Tahoe was on my mind as was a nice gold ring or two and always a silver coin as consolation. Pulling my camp trailer all the way up (Boise 2730' - Lake Tahoe 6225') found me in snow and not just a dusting. Not thinking all the way through my last minute change (I should have called 1st) left a lump in my throat as I drove around trying to find an open area for my 50' combo to settle for the night. Now is not a good time to find out most of the camp sites on the CA side were still snowed in and closed. I spoke with a Forest Service lady the 2nd day as I ended up sleeping over night at a school parking lot in Kings Beach and she told me of 2 camping sites they just plowed. She was certainly a trip saver for me. Finding my way that afternoon to said site and paying the daily fees to camp (nothing is free in CA), I was eager to get out in the water. Mistake #2 (no wet suite as I had not planned a dip in the snow banks of the chilling Tahoe waters. Heck, I'm USMC...just do it!! was my thought and desire. Shorts and tennis shoes is all I needed, lasted about 45 minutes and 15 targets, which none were gold or silver of choice and the day was shot. Certainly was one of my cold/numbest & dumbest water/beach hunts I have dipped. 2nd day I came back with a new plan and hunted gravels/rocks along the banks (out of the water) and after many scratches, digs and picking...YES.. scored a nice heavy yellow metal ring. Interesting how they stack the rocks on the shoreline, so I took a few picks of my stacked 3030 next someones artwork, heck why not? On a side note: If ever around there and you enjoy smooth dark ale beer, a World Beer Cup Gold Medal Winner is by far my favorite. Double Nut Brown Ale made by Mammoth Brewing Company is serious winner. A couple days later as I was picking more signals in the rocks along the shoreline, this nice black disc appears. Did not even realize it was a coin at 1st, but when I turned it over I could read "ONE DIME". Ended up being my oldest coin to date from Lake Tahoe, an 1856 US Seated Liberty Dime. So if you know of an old high country lake or swimming hole...or just want to try something different, maybe this short story will inspire? At least the dark ale lovers get a tip of beer greatness. And be sure to plan appropriately...and let others know where you'll be.

George, Moore Creek to this day is always at the back of my mind "for another visit" and your discovery of the Golden Famous Fern allows my inner thoughts for even more great dreams. Thanks for sharing and getting me excited again.

I feel it is an easy winner in Tot Lots, V-Ball Courts and dry beach hunts. The finds I made in the photos were from 2 Volley Ball Courts I hunted with the 24K. Notice the tiny #9 skeet shot and many smaller ear ring backs. Be sure to pair it with w TRX pointer too for faster recovery.