Summertime Lake Hunting Tips

Lake water hunting is becoming more and more popular each year. Everybody wants the gold! A few years ago, I hunted this very popular swim beach early one morning. The beach had been loaded with swimmers the day before. By the time I left the beach there were a total of two scuba divers and three waders out there in the water. I didn't know any of these other hunters either... The beach had turned into a Club Hunt! :) I do remember leaving the beach with a 9 gram 18K band. Was it luck? Yes, there was some luck involved. But that was my beach, so I knew how to hunt it, and I knew where everything was most likely going to be. And it always helps if you're the first one in there. :0)

The photo below was taken in October. Notice the lifeguard stand and also note that the water level has receded almost two feet.

This is one of the nice things about lakes. As soon as summer begins the lake water levels start to diminish. Usually by August this allows waders access to areas that they have never hunted before. As you hunt thru the dog days of summer you'll notice that water level line receding. The best place on the dry sand to hunt is, the two foot area above the water line. Why? One month ago this area was covered with water and the swimmers walking back to their beach towels lost their rings as they got out of the water. A ring lost in the water in sandy areas will disappear within seconds. With Jet Skiers in the vicinity making waves, it makes it almost impossible for the swimmers to recover their rings in these sandy areas.

So somebody has been hunting your beach huh? :) How do you know? Did you see any scoop marks? You didn't see any scoop marks but all you found was two dimes and a junk ring. :( All of us water hunters have been in this situation before. There is no doubt alot of competition out there. Some of these water hunters are seasoned pro's and they have been doing this for years. For future reference we will refer to these types of hunters as a "Fort Knox" hunter :) So how can I get an edge on these guys?

First off, you need to start keeping a log. Write down the name of the beach, the date, total time hunted, your finds, etc. after every hunt. This allows for advance planning. Also keep track of where you're finding the gold rings and most of the coins on every beach. Then the next time you hunt these beaches you're hunting these productive areas first and spending most of your time in these specific areas. After keeping a log for a few years you will start to notice some trends. Beaches A, B, & C are giving up alot of gold rings. Beaches D, E, & F are producing only an occasional silver ring. I would be hunting beaches A, B, & C at least twice a week!

Adults that come to the beach without children tend to hang out on both ends of the beach, wanting to stay away from the kids in the middle. Adults also wear the bigger gold rings. There are also the swim ropes. These are very productive areas as the swimmers are always handling them and dink'in around in the vicinity. Three to four feet of water is where you'll find the most rings. Areas in front of cement steps and lifeguard stands can be productive also.

Without going to the beach the day before, how do you know that there has been a lot of swimming activity lately? Hot weather is what the swimmers really like. They don't care that much about cool water as long as they have hot air temps. If you get there early in the morning then take a look at the garbage cans. If they're over flowing with garbage then this is a good sign that there was a big crowd the day before. Some things to look for in the water would be... Bubble gum, swim goggles and dollars bills laying on the bottom. Keep those eye balls peeled! :)

Rings! Rings! Rings! So what are the best months suited for finding more rings? I like June, because this is when the water is the coldest! In June the swimmers tend too shed their rings like water off a duck. :) August is also a good month because the water levels of the lakes are very low and you'll also find stuff that everyone has missed. After Labor Day weekend things start to slow down some because the kids are going back to school. But don't put your water detector away yet, because on the weekends they are back at the lake again swimming in that warm water.

One thing to remember is, you're not going to get it all. So when you get to the beach if there aren't many signals then don't immediately give up and go elsewhere. Know your beach and know your detector!

Persistence = Gold!

HH LW