Gerry's Golden Success & Smiles of 2025 Adventures

[Gerry in Idaho]

Here's a run down of the Golden Recoveries swinging 7 different detectors, traveling 4 states and 2 countries, along with a few cool pics from 2025.  No records broken and hardly a monster to choke on, but a little more heavy metal shining in the poke, is mine.

1st gold of the year was outside of the United States as I snorkeled the warm tropical waters in the Caribbean.  

 

Not bad results of a vacation trip gathering close to 2 ounces of man made Au.

 

First natural nugget find of the year, this tiny .06 grammar recovered with my GPZ in Northern Nevada.

 

My best actual nugget was a 10.7 gram flat Golden Corn flake recovered with a GPZ-7000. It also happened to be my best gold from the state of Nevada recovered in 2025 and my deepest recovery.

 

Most interesting nugget, also from Nevada, is the thin slightly twisted and smooth propeller nugget.  Recovered with my GPX-6000.

 

California calling and my Axiom shined the 1st day.  

 

This (same piece as above at different angle) stunning white quartz Golden crown specimen was recovered in a century old hand worked throw out pile.

 

Not to be out done while visiting the Golden state of Cali, the sensitivity of my Garrett 24K, struck a small mixed speci with a streak of yellow metal.

 

I was able to spend a few days in the field making friends and these 3 yahoos can easily keep a room laughing. My Golden moment pic of the year they are.

 

The most impressive and valuable gold recovery I was able to hold.  Talk about mind blowing beautiful.

 

My 1st Gold from Rye Patch proper (just above the burn barrel) using GPZ-7000.

 

Ugly Manticore rock. This quartz matrix find had a small nugget hidden inside. Recovered in Ore Dump throw out pile.

 

Manticore banged this 8 gram nugget using stock 11" coil.

 

Dredge Tailing piles are one of my favorite detecting styles.  This stunning Specimen made my trip a Success.

 

Eastern Oregon Blues were a calling and my 1st nugget from there was this smooth dense ancient placer nuggie.

 

Gold Bug-2 is great at returning a small white gold & diamond stud.  It amazes me the amount of Swingers who miss them and don't even know.

 

Smiling lady is priceless and a great feeling when I can help a stranger with my detector and skill.

 

1st gold nugget with the GM-2000 recovered.

 

3 hrs. of use on a detector, I had never used before.  Not bad, 3 nuggets with caliche and a conglomerate that ended up with a nugget prize inside.

 

Idaho shines for me.

 

One of my favorite pics of the Idaho find.

 

Smallest Idaho specimen of 25 is this little .73 gram beauty.

 

Last gold of 2025 was trying to drown me and Manticore in the Ocean down South.  Montezuma Revenge put me down for 3 days, so the amount of actual gold ring recoveries was not on par.  Also, getting to be more Tungsten and Stainless bands than gold, not good for our future.

 

Fools gold got me.  I was so certain of a mouth full smacking whopper; I even recorded the 20" deep dig.  It was also the last day I detected in 2025.

 

New Years Eve in Idaho back country.  Frozen falls and my buddies rig in front of me for size comparison.

 

Last day of 2025 at an 1860's gold mining town in Atlanta, Idaho.  Hardly any snow and normally this time of year, 3 to 4 feet deep.

Happy Hunting everyone and hopefully you were able to get out and enjoy your detector, make some new friends and see amazing places.  If you didn't, please try to do so in 2026.

For those interesting in learning their detector better at finding gold, contact me for upcoming Field Training sessions.  1st option is a 1 day class at Quartzsite, AZ on Saturday Feb. 21st and next option is a 3 Day Field Training Camping trip with like minded folks, at the famous Rye Patch, NV. April 17th - 19th.  My Field Staff/I know many detectors well.

[flakmagnet]

You had quite a year Gary…you obviously put in a lot of work…thank you for providing incentive for '26...

[Lunk]

Good times and great finds, Gerry…here's to even more in 2026!

[Norvic]

5 hours ago, flakmagnet said:

You had quite a year Gary…you obviously put in a lot of work…thank you for providing incentive for '26...

Oie Flak has pegged it..... remarkable eye candy incentive for the 26 gold season, thank you Gerry.

[Gerry in Idaho]

14 hours ago, flakmagnet said:

You had quite a year Gary…you obviously put in a lot of work…thank you for providing incentive for '26...

flakmagnet - I actually didn't get to detect as much as I had hoped for.  But in return, I did enjoy time sharing some adventures with my wife and a few old friends.  My wife is one of those Corporate types who has been chasing the Title and $$ for 35 yrs.  Not saying that's wrong, but she missed out on so much of my fun business lifestyle.  We're now trying to catch up and enjoy the last parts of our lives together, while our bodies still have a little kick left in them.

Lunk - I'm looking forward to it, my friend.  We've enjoyed a few golden moments ourselves.  Heck, remember that site I took you to and we slayed out about 15 gold rings from the 1800's.  Be sure to be on Q for this upcoming class in Quartzsite on Saturday Feb. 21st.  I'm thinking the GM-2000 will be the best performer there.

Norivc - It's "eye candy" that gets our minds a thinking.  I need to get off my keister and just go do it.  We're only on this planet one time.  So, go make some memories folks.  I'm blessed to have such a fun and exciting job I do. I try my best to get folks to go outdoors and experience adventure. Thanks again, for mentioning eye candy. 

 

 

 

 

[beatup]

good on you Gerry

[mn90403]

Gerry,

Thanks for the album.  There is some impressive stuff there.

My year in review has lots of gold trips with the kids but more than 50% skunks!  I've still got good pictures and memories of all of those miles.

This coming year I hope to increase my totals and recoveries to a respectable level again.

Thanks for your help and training.

[cudamark]

Your "impressive, mind blowing beautiful" piece looks like a surfer on a wave! Very cool dude! 😄👍

[Gerry in Idaho]

3 hours ago, beatup said:

good on you Gerry

beatup - Thanks and I'm hoping to see some of your Adventures of 2026 show up on here.  Gold comes in many ways.

mn90403 - Most don't know your situation (kids) and the sacrifices you take, but you do the best with it. Those memories with the kids are more valuable than any gold ring or nugget. That's what makes you a special kind of man. Gold will shine on you in 2026.  Thanks again for taking your time away from family to join us at Rye Patch last year.  Your efforts shined through with gold recoveries from both of your detectors.

cudamark - Yes, that rocking this world surfing chunk had me shaking in my boots.  I've held some World Class Au and that's certainly one of the Top 20, possibly Top 10.  Glad you enjoyed it and good luck to you in 2026.