strick

Nice work Lunk ! I ditto what Bill Moore said...... your expertise is invaluable. Many more nuggets to you this Winter ! strick

I'd like to try a hip stick. My only worry is that it gets in the way of swinging a pick. I guess it's a non issue since I've not heard of that being a problem. My Pro swing was starting to come apart at the seems as well. I used rivets to strengthen it. strick

That's a lot of gold! Rye patch is not dead by any means. Nice work fellas... strick

An emergency flare is a portable blow torch that will allow you to start a fire easily even in the harshest conditions. I used to keep one in my pack when big game hunting in the winter months....and used it... strick

Thanks for the link. Like that professors teaching skills.....I'm ready for the test! strick

Hope to run into you somewhere out there. I'll be looking for that truck! strick

The ergonomics of the CTX 3030 is hard to beat. I have not yet held a Fisher F75. I'd like to see more water resistant detectors out there. Don't have to be water proof...just resistant. I think it's stupid to have to put a plastic bag over your control box. After all this is an outdoor sport. I saw a guy not too long ago run like a little girl back to his car as soon as it started raining because he was afraid of getting his gpx 5000 wet. strick

I have 4 Minelab's and I keep checking the mail... maybe they found out I was hanging out with Klunker? strick

I used the Miner John skid plate on my last trip. I did not notice any difference in sensitivity to small targets and yes it is nice and thick so I feel that it protects the coil better then the standard skid plate. When I took it off after the trip there was barely any dirt inside so I was happy with that. The stock skid plate accumulated lots of dirt and I used to take it off at the end of the day to clean it. As stated earlier my problem with the Miner John was that I could not get it on without heating the tabs with a heat gun and bending them out a little. I tried using a screw driver to pry out the tabs but I did not like the way it was putting pressure on my $10,000 metal detectors coil. The plastic on the ZED coil is not much thicker the that on the standard skid plate. Maybe I got one that was extra tight fitting I don't know. Once you get the Miner John on its great. Maybe it will soften up with use and be easier to get on and off. strick

Last week I flipped the ole Zed ferrite ring and it landed on heads (gray side up) so instead of the desert Lisa and I headed to the high Sierras for a nice long weekend of gold hunting. We were lucky to find some of the yellow stuff. 9 pieces totaled a little over 8 grams. I found a nice 5.2 gram piece that will make a perfect pendent for her next birthday. I covered some ground trying to find a new patch but I had most of my luck slowly and persistently working the patch that I had scored previously. The 2300 never left the back seat of the truck on this trip as I'm starting to feel now that I don't want to put the 7000 down and miss a deep nugget. Speaking of deep I dug a big lead slug on this trip that had to be 24 inches down. The deeper you go the more exciting it gets. Good hunting to you all. strick

Nice work as usual Rick and gang. Wish I could been there but chose the Sierras instead last weekend. The Zed is the real deal except on those really tiny ones that as you say are hard to bring to reel. Send in the 2300 or the gold bug 2 to sniff them out of the pile. strick

Great story as usual and I can imagine the beautiful countryside of the trinity alps as you tell it. We passed on deer season up there this year. Looking for gold got in the way. Nice token as it appears to be in great shape. strick

Thats really cool. I'm happy for the guy as it seems that he can really use the money from the sale. strick

Yea that part..... but I'll figure it out later when I consult my new Andy Sabisch ctx 3030 hand book. Makes sense that it rang up in the penny range as that's a nice nugget. Nice work strick

Always enjoy your stories. That shovel looks like it's ready to go back to work. All you need is a to go to Ace and buy a new handle. Congrats on the gold.. strick

Wow that's a really nice nugget! I'm curious like Bada. How deep and do you remember what the numbers were? strick

7000, 2300. ctx 3030

Funny thing now is I get more excited when I hear a nice low tone in the 12-08 12-12 range then when I hear a high tone in the12-42 range. Been passing up coins for pull tabs. The necklace ringed in at 12-10 and it was in the kiddy sand box area just barely under the sand. Looks like I'll have to spend more time playing in the sand box from now on. strick

The urban gold fields are still producing. One last hunt before we head for the hills next weekend. The necklace weighs 14.5 grams. Good hunting everyone! strick

I just got one from Doc. Have not tried it out in the field yet. It does not have near as many tabs around the perimeter as the stock skid plate which is a mistake in the design IMHO. I could not get it to fit (way to tight) and was worried about damaging the coil trying to get it on so I heated the tabs with a heat shrink gun and bent the tabs outward a little to make it fit. It is nice and thick but due to the trouble that I had getting it on the coil I'm inclined to think I'd rather just get the stock skid plate next time around. My stock skid plate wore out pretty fast and a lot of dirt gets inside easily. strick

I hope she does not check this web site! Wish I could make it...sounds like a lot of fun.

Good point. I can easily do a couple ounces a day by staying home and working...but it's more fun to go to the mountains or desert and dig a $50 gold nugget... strick

It would be a great title to a hand book on hunting urban parks. Feel free to use it you authors out there. The CTX 3030 is a very powerful gold machine (heard that before?) Extreme depth is not required ... Just dig those low tones but like hunting nuggets you will dig lots of trash. Two sterling silver rings and two gold...one 10K and the other 14k with small diamonds this weekend just a few hours at two local parks. Good hunting to you all. Hoping to hit the real gold fields soon but until then I'll take what I can get. strick

I'll be keeping mine that's for sure. I hate it for pinpointing although I am getting better at it. There have been several small gold nuggets that I left and went back to later and easily found with the 2300.The GPS is useless for me since I already carry one built into my 2 way radio that has high res topo maps. Her language is very complex and that is good and bad I guess. Nugget shape has a lot to do with it I think. Klunker does not like the harness I know that for sure. He easily swings his 7000 all day long without one..... strick

Beautiful gold Chris. Like that fat boy in the middle. Wondering what you like to use to clean your gold? Thanks for sharing strick