Prospecting / panning for gold and fishing

[lobboroz]

Hi
Hope this is the right place to post this question. Just wondering if there is an area in Victoria near the coast for prospecting/panning for gold? Partners grand dad wants to go somewhere and i said i would take him to a place for a few days but ive got no interest in prospecting but i do love fishing but usually salt water fishing. Is there a place where we could go where we would be able to do the things we both enjoy??? probably somewhere that the terrain isnt too harsh as he has one knee...
thanks in advance

 

[Parks]

There's heaps of spots. Where in Vic are you based?

 

[lobboroz]

im based in melbourne. He said he has some spots in ballarat / bendigo where he used to go. But id prefer going coastal if possible
No more then 4hrs drive if possible
thanks!

 

[AtomRat]

A detector may be your better option. One that works on wet beach sand too. Many coin..jigs n free sinkers as well as coins and the odd gold ring or even pirate treasure chest

I've tried panning gold at phillip island but found nothing if that helps..crystals can be found though along rock deposits along beaches. Usually near volcanic rocks.

Gold would be a hard one to pan at a beach I recon and you'd want to be near a river / freshwater inlet for starters if you did want to try

 

[lobboroz]

Only problem is he doesnt have his detector no more. Sold it when he moved and with his bung knee thought he wouldnt be able to get around with it much...
ive researched online and they seem to be a bit pricey for something decent even second hand.

thanks for the tip about phillip island. That would have been a great place to go if you were successful. One of my favourite place to fish

 

[AtomRat]

Your spot on with the price and with a cheap one they don't work well in wet sand which is where the goodies are waiting. There are some cheaper diy boards like the SurfPI which I'm pretty sure will work in the water, pretty sure theres a youtube vid on it too. If your good with a soldering iron..this may be your cheapest option.

At least $500 minimum roughly for a good beach detector.

Wish I had more info on gold and beaches but like I said..if there is gold its probably too deep for us to dig up. Are gemstones an option? I can give you p island locations or westernport for that..

 

[lobboroz]

Do you have a link to a DIY board for just normal use? that i could try to make him? how much do you think that would cost?
thanks!

 

[Parks]

As Atomrat says most of the spots for gold in Vic are inland mate. There's good trout fishing though. With one knee your father in law probably doesn't want to walk too far. Maybe Bryce's flat north of Daylesford? It's a good spot that you can drive into. Gold and garnets to be panned, and trout swimming around in the pools. There's two caravan parks in Daylesford. Or maybe Jamison near Eildon? It has a good caravan park (you can catch trout at the park) with gold panning and fishing at nearby Kevington.
Good luck

 

[AtomRat]

Ill grab the link when I'm back home mate..just out n about but if you google surfpi you will find the supplier in the uk. I think the board is $60, I bought one myself and many on the forum are using and making the surfpi right now on the forum. Use the forum search and look for 'surfpi'.

From the uk delivery takes a couple of weeks, just as a brief, you will need to make the coil, shaft and box for the electronics. Some use basic pvc and the coil is basic copper wire, all instructions online

 

[lobboroz]

Thanks Parks ill check those locations out and speak to the old man. If theres no coastal location more likely than not we will go to Ballarat to one of his secret spots. Probably not so secret now and see a 100 people there these days since he hasnt been there for a while haha

Thanks AtomRat. Googled it and found some information on it

 

[AtomRat]

Basically if you want to see gold.. go to golden triangle with any tool and patience, there's still lots to find

Ill have a few goes again when I'm near the cost and do a few more pans to see if I can find anything...good excuse just to go the beach anyway

 

[Redfin]

Good fishing in the Loddon River, Cod season is almost here.
Plenty of gold in and around Laanecoorie to dry pan.
and a great free campsite right on the river..