Rotapan vs The Nugget Bucket

[Seden]

I couldn't decide which sub forum to post this but this looked the closest so here goes. I was wondering which to get for those areas where you have to be on the down low and can't set up a sluice but want to move more material than the standard gold pan would you suggest? A few years back I'd see threads about the Rotapan but now no one is talking about them at all and now I see interest in the new Nugget Bucket.

In theory the action looks very similar but the Rotapan is way more expensive but is it worth it? I came into this situation where I need one or the other as there is this creek in Los Angeles County that is about 3-4 feet across with slow flowing water. Also NO panning allowed because of a eco-freak lawsuit so if I had one of these fluid bed devices I could of found an out of the way spot to run my dirt from an area close by quietly.

Thanks for your time and help,

Randy

 

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[DizzyDigger]

You do realize what it's going to cost you if you are caught?

 

[Seden]

Yes I do which is why it's the last ditch effort. The extreme drought makes for desperate measures but we all know the drill. Main thing is you don't park anywhere near where you're working and they've got miles and miles of land to patrol to check every square inch of what looks to be unihabited space. Point well taken though,thanks.

 

[Duckwalk]

You are not going to get just yourself in trouble, this is how prospectors and miners lose respect from the regular population.

 

[Seden]

Duckwalk, you and DizzyDigger are right I won't deny it but you don't have to put up with the conditions we small miners do here in the desert Southwest either. Both of you guy's have multiple water areas to choose from that we don't,whole different ball game guy's. Plus this IS the home of the Green Extremists,just ask Hoser John he will be glad to fill you in on our reality.
As Clay Diggins sez, Heavy Pans my friends.

 

[placertogo]

I would suggest reviewing the legal restrictions on that area you intend to prospect. If the rules are "no gold panning," is that for the entire area or only within the limits (inside the high water mark) of the stream bed? The advantage of the Rotapan is that you don't need to be in the stream to use it as it utilizes the water within the bucket to process the material. You can dig material from the stream and take it to outside the stream limits to process it with the Rotapan and technically not be "panning" in the stream and thus not be "polluting" the stream with your tailings. If there is "no gold panning" within the overall area (forest or park or whatever) you can obviously not have a gold pan or Rotapan with you lest you be presumed to be using it. But you may still be able to prospect if you can do sniping or crevicing, take the material home, and process it "off premises" which may comply with the letter of the rules. I have found that many of the rules were written by those who are not aware of the various processes that we use. Over the years, I have done a good deal of prospecting without having a gold pan with me. I have a bucket stenciled "TRASH" that I sometimes take with me into areas frequented by some of the "eco-goons." If I find cigarette butts, candy wrappers, cans, etc. I put them in the "TRASH" buckets along with scrapings from crevices, moss, and other sniping material. I can always explain that I am myself a "green" whose hobby is to help clean up the environment.

 

[Seden]

Placertogo,

Thank you for being the first person to answer my question and well done at that! You get what I'm talking about which is why I'm looking at the Rotapan being not panning. This area in question only specifies no panning or mining in the stream, all surrounding area is fair game so will go ahead and get one.
Here in the Socialist Democratic state of California the "eco-goons" have been clever by becoming USFS Rangers and they are zealous. Thanks again for your answer, I thought since this thread had got hi-jacked I was never going to get an answer to my question.

If you ever come to the LA area let me know and I'll take you to my go-to gold spots. Heck we might even process the material covertly,who knows.

 

[placertogo]

Thank you for the offer, Seden. I have seen the Gold Fever show with Tom Massie prospecting the storm drains and such in LA and I think the best way to handle onlookers is to tell them you are cleaning up trash in the drains rather than let them know you are looking for gold. By the way, I have a Rotapan and it works very well even for processing material with very fine gold.

 

[Goldwasher]

You may be surprised to find out that your told you can't do something in an area and actually can. I only know of one area near l.a. that you are told you can't dig. It's on federal land and you will find out with a little research that you actually can.Some state and city land will be different. It would be helpful if you were a little more specific about this restricted area. You may be relieved to hear you can do more then you were told. There are several members here from your area that know the legalities and situation on the ground.

 

[Goldwasher]

Also keep in mind that an area that says no panning in the stream is also going to be the harshest about the types of tools you use and the fact that you may take water from the creek even if using a bucket.
Not asking you to give away your spot just trying to help you get some things cleared up. Considering how many hassle free areas there are to dig near L.a. it would have to be a very rich and unknown spot for me to even bother if there were that many restrictions. A little more info would get you better responses I didn't see any thread jacking all the responses I saw were relevant and helpful

 

[Seden]

Goldwasher, the area in question is San Francisquito Canyon creek.

 

[placertogo]

The San Gabriel River is closed but does this mean the entire Angeles National Forest is closed?

 

[Seden]

No,only the San Gabriel Mountains which is only part of the Angeles Forest.

 

[placertogo]

In my opinion, if the Forest Service feels that the San Gabriel Mountains are such a critical area that prospecting is prohibited, they should allow no other activity in that area. There are plenty of other activities, including logging, hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, trapping, ATV'ing, etc. that may possibly cause adverse impact on a critical area as much or more than gold panning. In other words, restrict the entire area to no human entry except for fire suppression.

 

[Seden]

Well since it was declared to be a National Monument last fall and not as a result of a ecologist lawsuit, it is valid and so I stay out of it. I work in area that is a few miles from the USFS land that is an old land grant and sweet not to be bothered. The other USFS areas that are closed as a result of non-elected private citizens lawsuit (i.e. Ecologist organizations) are not recognized as legal & binding and so are mined by myself and many many other's who know the difference. Those who fail to understand the difference or refuse to I offer my services to take down the mirrors in their houses for free (<:

 

[rodoconnor]

Randy, I know the area you are working . A friend had claims in SFC in the 40's 50's and 60's. Some very good gold to be had Good luck.

 

[goldog]

Don't get me started about Angeles Nat'l forest. There is at least one other area I was told was closed. "Can't go 10 feet from the car."

 

[Seden]

10 feet from the car,wow where the heck is that? Yep I said aidios when Barry Soto signed off on it. Now I wonder how that's going to impact the little towns that in the National Park. One of the LA City Fire Captains that I know lives up there and she said they're waiting for the other shoe to drop. They should pool their resources and have a class action lawsuit.

Will be interesting in another year when the USFS Rangers are trained to become National Park Rangers how things are going to play out. What new restrictions and such. I hope that wakes up the General Citizens to what just happened to their playground.

 

[placertogo]

The U.S. Forest Service is frightening and intimidating citizens and users of USFS property with threats of $5,000 and $10,000 fines as well as jail time for the most minimal of infractions. Here in the northeast, we have the White Mountain National Forest, mostly in New Hampshire but some of it in Maine. There are no so many closures of areas and complicated rules that many people are afraid to do anything in the National Forest. Now the powers that be want to put a huge National Park in Maine. I hope people wake up and soon. Check this out: /National park debate turns focus on land ownership questions ? Penobscot ? Bangor Daily News ? BDN Maine

 

[Seden]

Placertogo, yes that is the proverbial camels nose under the tent. They are liars saying that it will not effect the surrounding businesses. And fortunately there are several companies that this would cause a significant loss to them should the forest service try to force them to sell. I would surely hope that the elected officials (read the Governor,Senators+ Congressmen)would step in and put a halt to such theft of properties and financial losses. This WOULD effect interstate commerce!
Yep, wake up people-this isn't like the USFS in your Grandparents Day. Have you seen the list of what the Communists hope to accomplish in the book "The Naked Communist" published in the late 1950's ? It is online and you will sadly see how many items have been accomplished so far and the real reason for each item. Which is why I and others refuse to kowtow to lands taken by ecologist lawsuits as it was not put to a vote by the General Public (the meetings the USFS have to discuss these takings is rigged by using whats known as the Delphi Method) Study up folks and open your eyes!!