Riverbank hunting...Worthwhile??

[Mona Lisa]

I live in a river town. I keep thinking that along the river banks would be a good place to hunt. Does anyone have any good experiences, comments, or suggestions? I can't try it yet because of the snow but I'm just curious if it would be worthwhile.

 

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[nedigger]

River bank hunting could possibly be productive if you do a little research on your local area. You have to keep in mind that rivers where a major mode of transportation for people and goods and they were loaded and unloaded at designated places along the river route. Try to locate steamboat landings and ferry crossings in your area and this may lead to some nice finds. I hope this helps. Good luck and HH.

 

[greenswinger]

In my town we are on a lake thet was once ms river . Lake bank was at one time town dump . A bottle hunters dream come true . after water falls in late spring bottles can be found on surface . My bride finally says ENOUGH ! so i quit bringing them home . usually find a lot of fishing lures also .

 

[Jim Cal]

Research your area and find where old settlements were located on the river. Many times they had docks for shipping and receiving goods and are good places to search. Jim Cal

 

[jglunt]

I'm on the Muskegon river in Michigan. It was used mainly to float logs downstream to railroad spurs back in the lumbering days but before that the local Indians had trails that followed the river for many miles. In some places, the Indian trails are now roads but in many places the old trails still exist. The river is of medium size (100yds. across at the widest) and not navigable by big boats. Look for old crossings, old bridges or remnants of them. Follow the high banks along either side and look for signs of camps or other congregating points. I also hunt the campgrounds, fishing access sites, canoe put-ins, old swimming holes and abandoned railroad grades that I can find.....it's all there and can be productive if you do some research and look hard. Jim

 

[bigrig40]

i have heard of people doing well i just haven't.i usually find alot of cans,only once did i find coins and that was a few clad in a area.

bigrig

 

[Monty]

I live in a river city too and wouldn't think the riverbank was too good right now. Most of the use to date was just plain old fishin'. Lots of sinkers and lures if you are into that. However in the city they have started developing the river bank for recreation purposes and now there are some parks, concert hall, various river fests held each year, etc. They now have an October Fest where the beer flows freely and it is attended by several hundred thousand people each year. I would think that after they pull the tents would be an ideal time to go detecting there. Drunks tend to loose things! So, I guess my answer is it all depends on the use of the river bank in your area.

 

[JARMAN]

Have hunted river and lakes in area and had good results after some reserch as listed above.Never know what you may find,In Knoxville TN a couple of weeks ago a FULL SKELETON of a teenage girl was found, downtown area.Turned out to be over 100 years old.Very busy river front.Just goes to show you how things can turn up.

 

[Mona Lisa]

Thanks for your replies. I planning on detecting along the road above the embankment. We do have a parade every year and people line up their lawn chairs all along the river. I'll give it a try, if spring ever comes.

 

[Lowbatts]

Hey anyplace you can walk across the river is a place where others did so before the bridges were built in the area. River fords are great places if they exist in places that have not been too developed and I love hunting them. Have found remains of a few failed crossings at such sites. But yeah, be ready to dig up junk by the ton.

 

[nutso]

Wher I live ther are many fords and covered bridges. This year I can go in the water with my 1280-x to chk them out. I hope to find coins dating back to the 1780's as this was the time this area was settled. A friend of mine found 3 1780's coins in one hour in a farmers field near me.