Detecting Around Lakes & Campgrounds

[DirtDigger]

Hi all - had a question and I knew this would be the place to get it answered. My wife's grandparents have a place on Dale Hollow Lake on the KY/TN border and the area that they're in has a boat marina, campground, and a lot of shoreline. I'm thinking of detecting down there but I'm also thinking it will end up being nothing but a trash heap. Around the campground, you know there'd be a billion pop tabs, cans, and other trash. And along the shoreline, I'm thinking I'd just find a bunch of old fishing hooks, lures, and yet more trash. Does anyone else ever try and hunt an area like that? If so, do you just turn your discrimination up pretty high? I'm patient with digging my fair share of pop tabs but I'm afraid I'll just get so frustrated down there that I'll just put my detector up for the weekend and say forget it.
Thanks for any advice!
Paul
aka - The DirtDigger

[PAPPY]

Around the boatdock, swimming area and picnic tables are the GREATEST place to hunt. Have found many a ring and old monies around these areas. Don't turn your discrim. up too high....If you want the good stuff you have to dig the junk too....Happy Hunting

[DirtDigger]

Good point I guess. That specific dock has been around since the lake was created back in the 30s or 40s so amid all of the garbage, I'm sure there are some really nice finds to discover. Guess I just have to suck it up and assume that I'll find a lot of garbage and hope for a surprise!

[PAPPY]

Paul, if the water ever goes down or the lake is drained, that portion would yield the most valuables....

What type detector you using?

[DirtDigger]

I'm using an inexpensive Bounty Hunter detector. Haven't been able to justify going all out for an expensive detector yet since I'm still a beginner (although I'm starting to get the itch to buy a new one). They've actually raised the level of this lake 7-8 feet lately to offset the lowering of Lake Cumberland - which makes me think it might be worth a trip over to Lake Cumberland for some detecting over there.

[JCWhite]

Hmmm, we could go there

[mtpockets]

I would hunt the area very slowly and try to determine whats good and whats not...
Listen really good to the tones.

Good luck.. HH

[Winger Ed.]

Good luck with that.
It sounds promising if it hasn't been worked before.


Where all the real goodies are will be off the end/sides of the the dock in the water if you can get at them.


For example:
(this is fairly typical for folks getting in or out of a boat)

My Dad keeps a big boat on one of our area lakes.
Him, or his guests accidently drop stuff in the water all the time.
About 40' under it, there in the dock-- that I know of-- are:

Several sets of keys. A few pairs of eye glasses. A wallet or two.
A car battery. An electric coffee pot. LOTS of fishing gear.
A anchor & chain. A fishing rod. Several screwdrivers.
The pocket knief my Grand Pop gave me. A trolling motor.
A transistor radio. Lots of drinking glasses.

Other people around his 'slip' there in the Marina have about the same under thier boat, as do all the other boats in all the other marinas.


.

[cjoej]

Winger ed,
Sounds like you could use some SCUBA gear and an Excalibur!

Getting back to Dirt Digger, these areas can be a treasure trove of lost items. Definately keep the discrimination as low as you can stand it, you could end up very happy you did.

SWC
Joe

[Dyrty]

Go for it. I have a very old park I like to go to and it is FILLED with trash. Slowly it's getting removed. :) Good luck