Rye Patch Keeps Giving....a Little

[Gerry in Idaho]

Just getting caught up and returning from Rye Patch NV and the 3 Days Field Training class my Staff/I offered.

Even though I stress to folks that finding gold is not the most important part of the class. The 3 days with my Field Staff/I is really all about knowledge and how much of it you can retain. But the feeling of a rattler in the bottle makes for a better ride home.

With the drier soil conditions and the majority of customers using the newest technology detectors, we were able to have a very high gold nugget count.  In fact, this is one of the most Successful 3 days trips I have held in the last 5 or 6 yrs.  Approx 40 nuggets were recovered by the group as a whole.  Yes we had and always do have a few who did not go home with a nugget.  As I feel, that’s really not as important as going home with detector knowledge.

Part of the training is to compare undug targets with the different detectors in the class so we all get to see, hear and learn from those rare opportunities.  When you get to swing your own detector over the spot and hopefully hear the signal, you start the process of building confidence in your detector and your coil control to get optimum signal response.  On occasion we find some model of detectors do not do as well as others and that is knowledge gained, even though sometimes hard to swallow.

The best wow target was approx. 10” depth and found with a GPX-6000.  From the surface none of the VLF’s could hear it, the GPX-5000 did not, as well as the GPZ-7000’s.  After 2” removed, the GPZ still had issues.  2 more inches removed and the ZED gave a dirty signal (kind of like a small piece of wire), but the 6000 was just simple loud and clear.  At about 6” depth the VLF heard it but their target ID read IRON. (realize every detector on the market has a max depth of proper ID before the system is unreliable).  Finally at 8” the NOX had proper ID of a non ferrous target and we were all getting excited expecting the customer to score his 1^st Rye Patch nugget.  Well you know gold hunting, it turned lead.

The most nuggets recovered were by 2 of the repeat customers.  One of them has been on top of the technology change and realizes the importance of hunting the old sites with the newest machines for best chance of success.  He shed the weight of the GPZ-7000 to shine with the new lighter GPX-6000 and his efforts were golden.  The other (his hunting buddy) stepped up from an SDC-2300 to the 6000 and this was his best trip to RP ever.  Just goes to show those old patches can still produce nuggets if you have the new GPX-6000 in your hands.

We had 2 hard chargers in the class (GPX-5000 and a GPZ-7000) that went home with plenty of knowledge and education, but did not find a NV nugget.  I’m not saying those models of detectors are no good, but just realize this is Rye Patch, the same area hunted with every PI since the early 90’s.  The good thing for these customers of those models, my staff/I were able to shine light on when we’d be using some of the features/capabilities of those model of detectors.  The GPX-5000 has IRON ID capabilities for trash areas and the GPZ-7000 can find the biggest of gold at near 4’ depth.

The dangers of Rye Patch are still there.  4 flat tires that I am aware of, 1 dead battery on a truck and a caved in tent from the high winds.  The snakes are out and the Mormon crickets were on the move.

 

If you are going to go.  I highly recommend for those who are not familiar with Rye Patch to check in at Gold Digger Saloon.  Danny, the owner has some of the better ground (claims) that have not been hunted as hard as the surrounding area.  I think he charges $20 or $25 for a day which is pretty reasonable.  The best part is you get a map so you know where you are and not on any others persons claim.  If you enjoy Pizza, they absolutely have the best pizza and coldest beer around.

Summery of the weekend.  Older model detectors don’t stand much of a chance when compared to the new.  Still a few nuggets left, but they are getting smaller and fewer.  Even if you have a new detector, if you don’t know what you are doing, the deck is stack against you at Rye Patch.  The lake is gone…it dried up.

One of my Staff said it best.  Cell phone = detector.  Who owns a 10 yr old cell phone and goes to Rye Patch and expects to find gold.

Pics are of my customers and some of the Rye Patch gold success/smiles shared.

[Lunk]

A stellar training session, Gerry, thanks for sharing!

[phrunt]

Looks like a great trip with a good supply of nuggets, the Nox users appeared to do very well even getting some of the bigger bits, you're very good at what you do Gerry 🙂

[Cascade Steven]

Congratulations to all involved.  Thanks for sharing

[Valens Legacy]

Thanks for sharing the pictures and giving me hope of being able to do the same in the future.

One of these days I plan to get out there for some good training from you.

 

[Lanny]

Nice write-up as well as an update on what the detector tech is actually doing in that area, good to know. Nice to see the pics of gold finds and smiling faces as well.

Thanks for posting, and all the best,

Lanny

[LuckyLundy]

Plenty of nuggets left to find in Rye Patch!  WTG Class

[Arky]

Great to see the Twin Falls twins score. In our Rye Patch hunting, the 6000 is outscoring the 7000 by about 10 to 1. Game changer for sure. Nice post Gerry.

[Steve Herschbach]

You all did well, thanks for posting Gerry. Got to admit to myself however that the last 7 years of GPZ activity have put a serious hurt on the Northern Nevada goldfields. The 6000 is cleaning up leftovers, but it's nothing like the gold rush feeling I got hitting patches first time with the GPZ 7000. It's like it has cleaned up 85% plus of what was left by previous machines, and we are now chasing the last 15% or less, and it's generally the smaller stuff. Hate to say it, but getting a little too lean for this spoiled old timer. Coin and jewelry hunting is looking better all the time. 

[Hard Prospector]

Yep,  couldn't have said it better.  Most of my gold detecting these days for  is jewelry  on the coast.  Too bad nugget patches don't get  replenished with each new beach season.