Fanning method

[Detector Wars]

Does anyone here use this method, even for wading? I've heard about people doing this even when wading but I can't see how this would work... any info/tips?

 

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[Sandman]

Divers and snorklers sometimes use a ping pong paddle to fan away the sand or silt to uncover the target. I've also used a Garrett Classifier pan to dig into the muck or sand to dig up a target. Most of the things you will find will stay in the plastic pan and you can wave the coil over it to see if it is in there before wasting air hunting for it. Wading with a good long handle scoop is the best way to retreive a object since you don't have to bend down and you never know how deep it is for all that fanning.

 

[Stevo]

If you are lazy like me you put a fin on (cut off some of the flipper to make walking easy) and fan targets with your foot till it moves. Put your coil just in front of the target and start kicking. as soon as you hear it move dive down and retrieve.



Stevo

 

[rehless]

I dive and snorkel fresh water in the North West and fanning is how I retrieve my targets. Use PI machines and
as you may know, targets can be deep, real deep. Get lots of good exercise and some times my body just charley
horses up when I get out. May not work so well if you are wading.

 

[Detector Wars]

Thanks all who replied,
You know it just occured to me, this would be a good thing to learn if you're traveling by plane and you're not taking your long scoop with you. I have a long scoop myself.

Rehless, you have touched upon deep targets, this is one of the things I was wondering about- what if the targets deep, can you still fan away to depth? Using a pan would mean you can dig and fan at the same time I like it, kicking the target (won't it sink further?), flippers, all good advice.

 

[DaChief]

I do both the scoop and the foot fan. When I foot fan, I will take a scoop or two with my long handled scoop and if the target is still in the hole, I fan with my foot until it pops out. I use my scoop to brace myself on one side and my detector for the other side as I fan. It is harder to do in the rougher surf but I usually don't hunt in rought surf anyway. I just check the hole as I fan and when the target is not in the hole any longer, I usually find it either to the front or rear of the hole in one of the directions I am fanning. It doesn't take much effort to blow a ring or small object out of a hole with your foot.

CAUTION: Don't fan bare footed! You can rip your foot wide open on an old can or other sharp piece of metal not to mention grabbing a big ole fish lure. I was recently fanning a hole to find that the target was a large folding pocket knife in the half open position. It can be dangerous if you let your foot hit the sand in the bottom of the hole. I try to keep my foot a few inches away from the bottom of the hole. It works great. The cut off flipper works well also as mentioned above but someone else.

 

[Detector Wars]

It would have been good to fan bare footed, then grab the target with your toe. Only when you've filled all your toes can you go home. The small toes are for smaller rings and your large toes are for those big honkers

Thanks Dachief, advice like this is really practical, you can go anywhere in the world and not have to take a long scoop with you, or if you forget etc. I can't wait to try it next time. The only thing is if you don't have a scoop with you, you have to reach down and grab the target somehow, in hot weather might not be a problem but...

... I might be able to replace the scidplate of the 10.5" coil with an eliptical scidplate and use the front or the end of the scidplate to scoop up the target... or just use the coil all together... just a thought.

 

[FLauthor]

I've used this method while hookha diving but the water HAS to be clear. If its stained or black water, forget it. Better to look for a 2 inch surface dredge, attach a floating screen box to the back of the riffle box and then when you have a target, simply suck it up. A gold dredge can be used in intracoastal saltwater areas or Gulf of Mexico usually where the Jetski crowd congregate. Its always real trashy here and a dredge will make it a lot easier to get the targets without a lot of digging. Freshwater use in Florida, consult with local Wildlife Officers, certain areas may require a permit.