Howd you learn to prospect???

[mjarvis]

Nobody taught me how to prospect, I just learned. I wanted to learn, the fever started with watching GOLD RUSH and my interest started from there. My dad or anyone else in my family has a clue how to or what prospect. I think it's interesting where people have learned to prospect and from who. I'm learning from all of you all and I've learned a lot!!! Keep up all the great sharing and knowledge of a long American history that has been fun doing and sharing!!!

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Minelab PRO-FIND 35 Waterproof Pinpointer Metal Detector for Experts with Tone ID & Adjustable Sensitivity - Grab it through Amazon!

[Fullpan]

I was addicted to heroin for 8-9 years and was wanting to get clean and happened to be looking at ways to do that on the internet and came across something about prospecting somehow and learned there was gold in Indiana. Idle time is a bad thing for someone trying to quit so I decided to try and prospect and the first time I seen color in a pan I had a new "addiction" and that was 8 -9 years ago.
Probably not a story many would expect.

BigBud - I've told parts of my story on here already, but you remind me of a couple I met. They were both doing well in L.A. but
both were spending a fortune on heroin and getting nowhere fast. They pulled a geographic and ended up in a permanent camp a few miles below me on SF Yuba in ca. We got in the habit with a few other miners to meet at the Country Store near Malakoff S.P. on
sunday afternoons for beer, pizza, and supplies. It was good to BS the afternoon away, after working so hard all week. They both
were stand-up people as were many of those I met. I lost track of them a couple years later, but know they gave themselves a new
way of living, working hard, being in nature and away from the influences of city life - just as I did.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Upgraded Night Vision Monocular Digital Infrared Monocular Telescope for 100% Darkness with 8X Zoom - Grab it through Amazon!

[BigBud]

It caused me to lose everything. Respect from family, my house, and since all my friend were also junkies I had to lose those as well, but that was willingly to get better. Ive been clean now for 8-9 years but still don't feel like Ive picked myself back up as my son and old lady and me are all living at my folks still, but it beats running around chasing dope any day!
Had a rough day today. I met up with Buddy today and he drove a few hours to where I live to go and prospect only to find out I was trespassing on property ive been prospecting on for the past 4 years! We were by a bridge where the land owner told me I could prospect only to find there is some land dispute between the landowner and the neighbor's land. Turns out I'll just have to prospect around 100 yards or so away from the bridge. Cops came an everything. I still don't think I was trespassing. I thought there was an easement of sorts under bridges but I guess it varies by county
Bad thing was it was the first time me and Buddy has met, So I hope he'll go prospecting with me again!

 

[Goldwasher]

With books a shovel and a gold pan!

 

[B H Prospector]

I did alot of reading (wasn't much in the way of prospecting videos and no youtube then) and alot of trial and error. I had to learn the hard way. My wife says that is why I try to help people learn so they can avoid the curve a bit sooner. I love seeing the look on their faces when they see their first gold in their pan. So far I have 3 couples to teach this year. I can't wait. Thats my story. Short and sweet.

 

[Fullpan]

I have a sneakin suspion that a whole lot of us prefer to learn the hard way through trial and error. Its part of the desire to be independant, but its not
really smart. I spent the first three seasons learning stuff that a couple outings with an old-timer would have taught me.

 

[chowe]

Trial,error,rice and beans.then alittle bread and butter.

 

[Hemisteve]

Yeah,
I did that also. Read every book and watched every video I could get my hands on. Went down to the river and started digging. Didn't get anything but an aching back the first few times out.
Do it enough times and you start figuring out where it is and where it isin't.

 

[midnightmoon]

First ... a book on the goldrush. Can not remember the title as I was in the third grade. Big brother teased me mercilessly, before HE decided the book needed a forged signature by the author ... oh, I was so scared to turn that book back in to the school library. It must have been a good forgery, inside the cover across from where the librarian would have to stamp, 'received/date'; and she did not say anything to me. Whew!

I outgrew a lot of my tomboy ways (hitting a baseball further than the boys; hot wiring the old cars, etc) but I never stopped wanting to prospect. Learned a lot from watching the Buzzard. First dipped a pan at Knotts' Berry Farm. The old guy there ... kinda mean. But a good instructor!

There is just something about dirt that keeps me coming back ... even nonproductive dirt. Course, I'd prefer nuggets large enough to trip over. Yea.

And I have learned so much from many folks here on this site!

... still learning ...

 

[Hoser John]

I was on that creek and bridge yesterday. Great pics--O2---Merced river and bridge blown up in the early 60s-John

 

[AlwaysBusyJ]

I was on a week long backpacking trip with my grandfather as a kid in the smokey mountains, about two days into the trip we stopped for the night near a stream. While climbing around on the boulders I found a rock about a foot across and on the top of it was some shiny specks that to me at the time looked like gold. Man I got so excited I started collecting every rock I could find and loaded up my pack with them! Needless to say the next day I immediately regretted my decision as we had a long uphill climb and I was now carrying at least 40 extra pounds of rocks! But I lugged those things around the whole way, still have them to this day! Ever since then I always had a fascination with gold prospecting. I learn the most from my mistakes. I keep a journal of each trip I take, write down what worked and what didn't. I get on google earth and make notes there too, so I have a good visual reference of the areas I've worked in the past. And I pull out my camera and take pictures of the specific spots where I found gold. And of course I scour google and youtube for info. I don't know anyone else thats into prospecting outside of my club, I've brought a few coworkers with me in the past but after a few hours of backbreaking work they realize gold prospecting isn't for them. So I've mostly relief on myself and whatever nuggets of wisdom I can glean from the old timers when I get a chance to talk to them.

 

[chowe]

Started out in a cowcamp in nv.one day running waters an old timer blew in to that country curious I stopped to bs a bit.ended up giving him a dog that wasnt really working for me.in return he gave me a bug.I figured I was out in it everyday looking for tracks anyways why not look for other sign aswell.well that didnt last long sold everything gotta a pack horse and went to it.the first few months were tough.run out of rice and beans had the screamers from eating nothing but meat.slowly things started turning around alittle.I wasnt making aliving by any means but I was sure enough living.I cant say it was the best way to go about it but what the hel I dont think I will go around more then once anyways.still aint making much of a living and sometimes I have to supplement with outside day wages but all in all it pays for itself and puts alittle in my pocket,cheers

 

[Sackett]

I was addicted to heroin for 8-9 years and was wanting to get clean and happened to be looking at ways to do that on the internet and came across something about prospecting somehow and learned there was gold in Indiana. Idle time is a bad thing for someone trying to quit so I decided to try and prospect and the first time I seen color in a pan I had a new "addiction" and that was 8 -9 years ago.
Probably not a story many would expect.

CONGRADULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Put your trust in The Lord Jesus Christ, if you;ve not already and then KEEP ON PANNING!!!!

 

[bug]

A no quit attitude

 

[Aurabbit79er]

First ... a book on the goldrush. Can not remember the title as I was in the third grade. Big brother teased me mercilessly, before HE decided the book needed a forged signature by the author ... oh, I was so scared to turn that book back in to the school library. It must have been a good forgery, inside the cover across from where the librarian would have to stamp, 'received/date'; and she did not say anything to me. Whew!

I outgrew a lot of my tomboy ways (hitting a baseball further than the boys; hot wiring the old cars, etc) but I never stopped wanting to prospect. Learned a lot from watching the Buzzard. First dipped a pan at Knotts' Berry Farm. The old guy there ... kinda mean. But a good instructor!

There is just something about dirt that keeps me coming back ... even nonproductive dirt. Course, I'd prefer nuggets large enough to trip over. Yea.

And I have learned so much from many folks here on this site!

... still learning ...

Learning is the key. Even my uncles mining geologist takes winter university courses to keep up on the field. There is always something new to learn.
I taught myself to pan and once on a trip to Knotts Berry Farm I wanted to pan. I found 7 pieces and the old looking Guy smiled at me and said " Nice job Mister. I only put 7 pieces in each pan. " That was the first time i panned with a metal pan too. I will stick to the Green riffle pans, much faster.
And for all of you who know the name I was in a panning contest against Boo Coo in the GPAA at a gold show in 2003 and I beat him but we were both beat by an 11 year old. Fast little brat.