Fisher M-Scope Gold Bug 2 User manual

Gold Bug 2
Operating Manual
Prospector’s Metal Detector
FISHER RESEARCH LABORATORY

CONTENTS
About Your Gold Bug-2.......................................................... pg. 1
Setting Up................................................................................. pg. 4
Hipmounting ............................................................................ pg. 5
Control Panel .......................................................................... pg. 6
Mode and Mineralization Switches ..................................... pg. 8
Mode and Mineralization Switch Selection ....................... pg. 10
Turn On Procedure ................................................................. pg. 12
Ground Reject Procedure ..................................................... pg. 13
Searching ................................................................................ pg. 15
Pinpointing............................................................................... pg. 17
Target Recovery ..................................................................... pg. 18
False Signals ............................................................................ pg. 21
Operating Tips ......................................................................... pg. 23
Coin Shooting, Beach and Relic Hunting............................ pg. 24
Battery Replacement ............................................................. pg. 24
Maintenance .......................................................................... pg. 25
Treasure Hunters’ Code of Ethics .......................................... pg. 26
Where to Use Your Gold Bug-2 in the U.S. ........................... pg. 27
Specifications ......................................................................... pg. 28

ABOUT YOUR DETECTOR
The Fisher Gold Bug, the predecessor to the Gold Bug-2, was
designed and engineered by Fisher engineers from the ground
up for the sole purpose of finding gold nuggets small gold
nuggets, large gold nuggets, deep gold nuggets and gold
nuggets in highly mineralized soil. Almost overnight, the Gold Bug
became the standard against which all other gold-hunting
detectors were compared.
The next generation Gold Bug, the Gold Bug-2, is not meant to
be a replacement for the original Gold Bug. Your Gold Bug-2
offers many of the successful features of the Gold Bug as well as
some new features, making it a distinctly different detector, but
still designed for the sole purpose of finding gold nuggets.
The first and foremost of these new features is the operating
frequency of the Gold Bug-2 – 71 kHz. This ultra-high operating
frequency is extremely sensitive to small gold nuggets, and it also
offers a side benefit. Because the Gold Bug-2 operates at a
different frequency, it can be operated near an original Gold
Bug without interference.
Also, a new mineralization switch on the Gold Bug-2 can be
set for high, normal and low mineralization ground conditions.
When set for high mineralization, this new circuitry allows
prospectors to hunt in areas previously off-limits due to high
ground mineralization or numerous hot rocks. Although the
original Gold Bug is known for finding small nuggets in highly
mineralized soil, the Gold Bug-2 will set new standards for both
size and depth under many soil conditions.
Iron discrimination is another new feature. In the IRON DISC
mode, you can identify hot rocks and small trash items like iron
nails and other ferrous trash before digging them. Use this mode
in extremely trashy areas to check a target for its iron content.
An audio boost mode, another new feature of the Gold Bug-2,
makes it easier to find smaller nuggets at greater depths. Already
a successful and proven feature of the Fisher QuickSilver line of
land and underwater detectors, the audio boost mode
1

2
ABOUT YOUR DETECTOR
automatically increases the volume of any faint signal, such as a
small or deep gold nugget. It does this without increasing the
volume of larger, shallower targets.
Here are some other features of the Gold Bug-2:
• Dust and moisture resistant control box.
• Removable control housing that mounts on your
hip and reduces the weight on your arm.
• Drop-in battery compartments for easy battery
replacement.
• An elliptical, 10-inch, shielded search coil that’s
lighter, covers more ground and gets into tighter
places than a circular coil.
• Optional 6.5- and 14-inch elliptical search coils.
• Lightweight design, only 2.9 lbs. with cushioned arm
rest and foam-grip handle.
• Built-in detector stand.
• Dual-knob, coarse/fine, manual ground-adjust
control.
• Double-locking, fiberglass-reinforced, nylon lower
stem.
• Quartz-crystal locked electronics.
• Built-in Fisher quality backed by 70years of
engineering excellence.
The rest is up to you. You’ve got the right detector, but you’ll
have to decide where to search and then put in a lot of long,
hard hours searching. And, of course, you’re going to have to
learn your Gold Bug-2, read this instruction manual carefully and
practice often. Drop us a line if you have any questions,
comments or exciting gold nugget stories. In the meantime . . .
Happy Hunting!
Fisher Research Laboratory

Padded arm rest
Detector stand
Foam grip
Drop-in battery
compartments
Anodized aluminum
upper stem
Snap button
7-foot search
coil cable
Lock nut
Nylon wing nut
Waterproof, ESI-shielded,
elliptical search coil
Velcro®
straps
Adjustable, ABS,
fiberglass-reinforced,
nylon lower stem
Threshold
control
Cable
connector
3
ABOUT YOUR DETECTOR
Figure 1. Gold bug-2

4
SETTING UP
The Gold Bug-2 comes to you just about ready to use. There
are only three steps required: sliding the lower stem into the upper
stem, connecting the loop coil to the control housing and
adjusting the angle of the search coil. Take a look at page 3
and familiarize yourself with the parts of the Gold Bug-2 before
proceeding.
1. Unpack your new Gold Bug-2 carefully. Save the
carton and inserts – they may come in handy for
future storage or shipment.
2. Slip the lower stem into the upper stem (see
previous page for Gold Bug-2 diagram).
3. Adjust the stem length and coil
angle so that the search coil rests
flat on the ground about 6 inches
in front of, and slightly to the right
of, your right foot (for left handers,
to the left of your left foot). Your
arm should be straight and relaxed
with your grip held loosely.
REMEMBER: THE LONGER THE SHAFT, THE
MORE YOU WILL HAVE TO BEND YOUR
ELBOW AND THE SOONER YOUR ARM
WILL GET TIRED. THE GOLD BUG-2 IS
BALANCED FOR COMFORTABLE
SEARCHING IN A TIGHT SEMICIRCLE IN
FRONT OF THE OPERATOR.
4. Tighten the lock nut and the nylon
wing nut on the search coil.
5. With the stem length properly
adjusted, wrap the loop cable
tightly around the upper stem and
secure it with the two Velcro
straps. Connect the cable
connector to the control housing.
CAUTION: MAKE SURE THE CABLE IS NOT
PULLED TIGHT AT THE CONTROL HOUSING
AND THAT YOU HAVE ENOUGH SLACK AT
THE SEARCH COIL TO ADJUST IT AT ANY
ANGLE.
Figure 2.
Adjust the stem length and coil
angle resting the search coil flat
on the ground and about 6
inches in front of your right foot
(left foot for left-handers).

5
HIPMOUNTING
Your Gold Bug-2 is light and extremely well balanced; however,
if you’re going to be swinging it for more than a few hours, you
may want to “hipmount” it by removing the control box and
strapping it to your waist. Follow this procedure:
1. Disconnect the cable from the
control housing and unwind all but
the last 12 inches or so from the
stem. Secure the lower end of the
cable with a velcro strap at least
12 inches up from the coil. CAUTION:
MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE ENOUGH
SLACK AT THE SEARCH COIL
2. Slide the control housing off the
handle by holding the hand grip
with one hand and pulling the
housing toward you with the other
hand.
3. Reconnect the cable to the control
housing. NOTE: It is especially important
that the cable connector be installed
tightly to prevent false signals during
hipmount use. Never tightened with
anything but your hands.
6. With the shaft length and coil angle properly
adjusted, you should be able to move into your
“search” position (as shown on page 4) by leaning
forward very slightly and raising your arm (still
straight) until the search coil is about 2 inches
above the ground and 12 inches in front of your
foot. The search coil should be parallel to the
ground and may have to be slightly readjusted at
this point.
7. If the arm rest is too wide or narrow, you may bend
it slightly inward or outward to meet your exact
requirements.
SETTING UP
The Gold Bug-2 control housing
can be hipmounted to reduce
weight on the stem and create
nearly effortless hunting. Belt
loops are provided on the
underside of the control housing.
Figure 3.

6
CONTROL PANEL
1. SENS: This knob adjusts the Gold Bug-2’s sensitivity
to targets, and it doubles as a battery tester. By
increasing the sensitivity, you can detect smaller and
deeper targets, however, you’ll also pick up more
false signals in mineralized soil or in areas of electrical
interference. The sensitivity control can also be
decreased to cut down on “ground chatter” and/
or electrical interference. Settings less than 5 should
4. Put your belt through the slots on
the underside of the housing.
5. Left handers should wear the
housing on their right hip and right
handers on their left hip.
To remove the control housing
from the stem, grasp the top of
the control box firmly and pull it
directly toward the arm rest while
holding the Gold Bug-2 handle.
NOTE: if you’re working in shallow water, you
may want to strap the control housing on
your chest in a heavy plastic bag, and seal
it tightly around the cable.
HIPMOUNTING
Figure 4.
Figure 5.

7
not be used unless you have already tried switching
to a higher mineralization setting. In the extreme
counterclockwise position, the SENS control doubles
as a battery tester. A loud tone indicates good
batteries, and a faint tone tells you it’s time to
change the batteries.
2. MODE: This is a three-position toggle switch that can
be set to IRON DISC, NORMAL or AUDIO BOOST.
(See the next section, “Mode and Mineralization
Switches,” for details.)
3. MINERALIZATION: This three-position toggle switch
has settings for varying levels of ground
mineralization: HIGH, NORMAL and LOW. (See next
section, “Mode and Mineralization Switches,” for
details.)
4. HEADPHONES: This jack accepts most stereo and
mono headphones with 1/4-inch plugs. When using
headphones with a stereo/mono switch, put the
stereo/mono switch in the stereo position. Although
your Gold Bug-2 is equipped with a dust and
moisture resistant speaker, we recommend that you
always wear headphones while hunting to
maximize the number of targets you hear.
Furthermore, we recommend our Fisher Phones,
which enhance faint-target response by blocking
out unwanted external noises, such as wind and
vehicle sounds. To plug in your headphones, unplug
the detachable seal and plug in your headphone
jack. When not using headphones, be sure to keep
the seal plugged into the HEADPHONES jack to keep
dust and moisture out of the control housing.
5. VOLUME: This knob turns the power on and adjusts
the signal-response volume. If you’re wearing
headphones with independent volume controls,
set your Gold Bug-2 VOLUME control to 10 and
decrease the volume of your earphone controls
to a comfortable level. This will ensure the hottest-
possible signal from your Gold Bug-2.
CONTROL PANEL

8
CONTROL PANEL
MODE AND MINERALIZATION SWITCHES
The mode switch on your Gold
Bug-2 offers three different
operating modes: IRON DISC,
NORMAL and AUDIO BOOST.
Each mode offers its own
advantages and disadvan-
tages in any given situation. It’s
up to you to find the right setting
for each of the ground
conditions you encounter.
Regardless of the MODE or
MINERALIZATION settings, your
Gold Bug-2 always operates in
a motion mode, meaning the
search coil must be in motion
to detect a target.
The two toggle switches on your Gold Bug-2
enable you to search in just about any kind
of ground condition. The trick is learning
which combination of settings is right for each
ground condition.
6. GROUND REJECT: This dual-knob control is used to
electronically tune the search coil to prevailing
ground-mineralization conditions. The small knob on
top only makes one revolution and is used for
coarse adjustments. It has 25 fixed positions. The
large knob on the bottom is for fine-tune
adjustments and is capable of 16 turns and an
infinite number of positions.
7. THRESHOLD: This metal shaft is located on the rear
of the control housing. It’s purposely small and out
of the way to avoid accidental adjustment. The
threshold control adjusts the level of your threshold
tone, which is set to a continuous, faint tone.
Figure 6.

7
The MINERALIZATION switch adjusts your Gold Bug-2 for ground
conditions. It does this by decreasing or increasing the sensitivity
(or gain) of your Gold Bug-2. Unlike the SENSITIVITY control, the
MINERALIZATION switch also affects the retune speed, which is
the amount of time it takes for your Gold Bug-2 to automatically
retune itself after the search coil has passed over a target. A
fast retune speed means a quick response to targets.
The following is a brief description of the MODE and
MINERALIZATION settings.
1. NORMAL MODE: This is an all-metals, autotune
search mode used for most nugget-hunting
conditions. The sensitivity is normal and the retune
speed is fast.
2. AUDIO BOOST MODE: In this mode, your Gold Bug-
2 automatically amplifies faint target sounds. At
volume levels above 7, faint target sounds
continue to get louder while loud, shallow target
sounds remain constant.
3. IRON DISC MODE: This mode ignores hot rocks and
small ferrous objects. It also features a very sharp
target response. An independent mode, the IRON
DISC mode is unaffected by the settings of the
MINERALIZATION, GROUND REJECT and THRESHOLD
controls.
4. NORMAL MINERALIZATION: With the MINERALIZATION
toggle switch in the NORMAL position, the sensitivity
of your Gold Bug-2 is optimum for most gold-bearing
soils. The retune speed is fast.
5. LOW MINERALIZATION: This setting is used for ideal
conditions – areas with few hot rocks, little black
sand, low ground mineralization and little trash. The
LOW MINERALIZATION setting provides better
sensitivity and slower retune speed for better
response to smaller, deeper nuggets.
6. HIGH MINERALIZATION: In this position, the sensitivity
of your Gold Bug-2 is reduced to allow operation
in areas of extreme mineralization. The retune speed
is fast.
9
MODE AND MINERALIZATION SWITCHES

10
The chart below shows how your Gold Bug-2’s sensitivity and
ability to operate in mineralized soil is affected by each combination
of MINERALIZATION and MODE toggle-switch settings.
In either the AUDIO BOOST or NORMAL MODE, the Gold Bug-2’s
sensitivity decreases as you increase MINERALIZATION settings from
LOW to HIGH.
MINERALIZATION SWITCH
In general, you should start searching with the
MINERALIZATION switch set to LOW. If you are getting too much
“ground chatter” even after adjusting the GROUND REJECT in
the LOW MINERALIZATION mode, try reducing the sensitivity
slightly or set the MINERALIZATION switch to NORMAL. If that
doesn’t do the trick, set the MINERALIZATION to HIGH and
readjust the GROUND REJECT control. If there is still to much
“ground chatter,” reduce the SENSITIVITY .
In the LOW MINERALIZATION setting, the search-coil response
(retune speed) is slow and the circuit gain (amplification) is high.
In the NORMAL MINERALIZATION setting, search-coil response is
quick and the circuit gain is reduced slightly. In the HIGH setting,
response is quick and the gain is further reduced.
Moist, alkali soil conditions will usually require use of the
NORMAL or HIGH MINERALIZATION settings. Heavy, black sand
MODE AND MINERALIZATION SWITCH SELECTION
LOW
MIN.
HI
MIN.
NORM
MIN.
LOW
MIN.
HI
MIN.
NORM
MIN.
Mode switch
in normal
Mode switch
in auto boost
Sensitivity
Low
High
Ability to work in
Miner Mineralized soil
Poor Good
Figure 7.

11
MODE AND MINERALIZATION SWITCH SELECTION
conditions will usually require the HIGH MINERALIZATION setting.
IRON DISCRIMINATION MODE
Don’t search in the IRON DISC mode unless the area is heavily
littered with iron trash. This mode is better used by hunting in the
NORMAL or AUDIO BOOST modes and switching to the IRON DISC
mode only to identify a strong target response. Don’t trust the
IRON DISC mode to correctly I.D. weak target sounds. Targets
already dug can also be checked for their gold content by using
the IRON DISC mode. Swing the object past the search coil, holding
it in your fingers or in a plastic scoop. If it is a “hot rock” or small
ferrous object, there will be no sound. Some iron objects chirp or
click. If it is nonferrous metal such as gold, your Gold Bug-2 will
give a solid “beep.”
Unlike the AUDIO BOOST and NORMAL modes, the IRON DISC
mode is unaffected by the SENSITIVITY control and threshold
settings. Also, unlike the other modes, the IRON DISC mode
operates without an audible threshold hum.
NOTE: Some faint static and occasional chatter is
normal in this mode. If you are running your
sensitivity too high for ground conditions (heavy
mineralization, trash and or hot rocks) you may
experience a constant, loud chatter as you sweep.
AUDIO BOOST MODE
In this mode, weak signals are louder than in the NORMAL
mode, but maximum loudness of strong signals is the same. The
primary purpose of the AUDIO BOOST mode is to help you hear
weak signals when there is interfering noise from wind, mining
equipment, vehicles, etc. Also, if you prefer using the speaker
(most people use headphones), you may prefer the AUDIO
BOOST mode even in quiet conditions.
Hunting in the AUDIO BOOST mode is best when the area has
few trash items, hot rocks and low ground mineralization. In areas
with many false signals, the AUDIO BOOST mode will amplify them
as well as signals from gold nuggets. The AUDIO BOOST mode
can also be used to recheck a disappearing signal, or to check
a faint signal to see if it sounds like a hot rock in AUDIO BOOST.

12
TURN ON PROCEDURE
1. Set your controls as follows:
MODE: NORMAL
MINERALIZATION: LOW
SENS: 10
GROUND REJECT: 10
VOLUME: OFF
NOTE: You will probably find
that most of your searching will
be done with the MODE and
MINERALIZATION switches set to
NORMAL and the SENSITIVITY
control set at something less
than 10. If you’re working in
unfamiliar ground, however, we recommend that
you try starting at the maximum sensitivity and LOW
MINERALIZATION settings.
2. Hold the search coil waist high, away from any
nearby metal.
3. Turn the VOLUME control to 10. A short, loud squawk
is normal at turn-on, so if you’re wearing
headphones, start the volume at 0 and let the audio
settle down before you increase it to a level that’s
comfortable when the coil is passed over a large
or shallow target.
NOTE: If your headset has volume controls, set the volume
control on your Bug to “10” and your headset volume
to zero. Then adjust your headset volume controls to a
comfortable level when the coil is passed over a large
or shallow target.
4. With the search coil still in the air, rotate the
THRESHOLD control on the back of the control
housing until you hear a very faint, continuous
signal. This is the audio threshold tone you’ll need
to hear while hunting to maintain optimum
performance from your Gold Bug-2.
The threshold signal is a soft background
tone heard when operating the Gold
Bug-2, is set by adjusting a metal stem at
the rear of the control housing.
Figure 8.

13
GROUND REJECT PROCEDURE
When your Gold Bug-2 is properly tuned or “ground balanced,”
it will have only a minimum response to ground minerals when
the search coil is raised or lowered. Precise adjustment of the
GROUND REJECT control is critical to your success. The lower the
MINERALIZATION or the higher the SENSITIVITY settings, the more
important it is to maintain proper
ground rejection.
If you change the
MINERALIZATION setting, you may
have to retune your Gold Bug-2
slightly to maintain optimum
performance. However, the
GROUND REJECT setting should be
close enough for pinpointing or for
a quick check in one of the other
modes. At worst, a change in
modes will require only a quick fine
tuning.
To tune your Gold Bug-2, follow these steps:
1. With your controls still set as
described in the “Turn On
Procedure” (See page 12), hold
the search coil parallel to and
about 6 inches above the
ground.
2. Lower the coil to within an inch
or two of the ground and
quickly raise it. Note that the
threshold tone becomes louder
as you lower the coil,
disappears when you raised it
and finally returns to normal
when you hold it 6 inches above
ground.
3. Your objective now is to adjust
Tune your Gold Bug-2 by bobbing
the search coil up and down while
adjusting the GROUND REJECT
control.
The GROUND REJECT
control consists of a coarse-
adjustment knob on top of
a fine-adjustment knob.
Figure 9.
Figure 10.

14
GROUND REJECT PROCEDURE
the GROUND REJECT control so that there is no
change or at least only a small change in the
threshold hum as you bob the coil up and down.
Start by clicking the small, center knob back to
about 8.
4. Bob the search coil up and down once again. One
of three things will happen to your threshold hum:
1) The tone will continue to get louder as you
lower the coil and disappear when you raise
it.
2) The tone will disappear as you lower the coil
and sound off as you raise it.
3) The tone will remain the same or change only
slightly.
5. If the tone remains unchanged or changes only
slightly, you are probably “Ground Balanced.” You
can fine tune, if required, with the larger knob.
6. If the tone gets louder going down and fades coming
up, continue rotating the small knob
counterclockwise until the tone change is minimal
when you bob the coil. Fine tune with the large knob.
7. If the tone fades going down and increases when
the coil is raised, rotate the small knob clockwise
until the tone change is minimal, then fine tune with
the large knob.
8. With practice, you will learn to click the small knob
counterclockwise as you bob the coil. Listen for the
change in the tone to switch from the down stroke
to the up stroke. Then, while continuing to bob the
coil, rotate the large knob clockwise until the tone
becomes even or until you hear only a slight change
on both the up stroke and the down stroke.
9. If you are having trouble ground balancing, try one
or more of the following:
1) Move to another spot in case you’re over a
piece of buried metal.
2) Reduce your SENSITIVITY setting.
3) Change your MINERALIZATION setting from
LOW to NORMAL or from NORMAL to HIGH.

15
SEARCHING
1. Keep the search coil moving at a comfortable rate.
Remember that the Gold Bug-2 is a motion detector
and responds only when the search coil (or the
target) is moving.
2. Keep the search coil parallel to and as close to the
ground as possible. This is important for maximum
coverage and depth.
3. Overlap your sweeps at least one
half the length of the search coil.
4..Search in a methodical
manner and sweep your
search coil in a tight semicircle.
Pay close attention to where
you’re going and where
you’ve been.
5. Take your time. If you walk too
fast, you won’t overlap your
sweeps, and you’ll miss a lot of
ground. If you sweep too fast,
you’ll lose sensitivity and miss
small, deep nuggets that
normally would be within the
range of your Gold Bug-2.
6..Recheck the ground
adjustment frequently by raising
and lowering the search coil and
listening for changes in the
threshold volume. In some nugget-bearing areas,
ground mineralization can change drastically within
a matter of feet, so check it often.
7. Try backing off the sensitivity control if you hear too
much ground chatter and false signals. If you find
you must decrease the SENSITIVITY control below
5, it’s probably a good idea to change the
MINERALIZATION setting to NORMAL and set the
SENSITIVITY control back to 10. You also might have
to retune the GROUND REJECT control slightly.
Remember, when you switch from LOW to NORMAL
The Gold Bug-2 is built for
balanced searching in a tight
semicircle around the front of the
operator.
Figure 11.

16
Keep the bottom of your search coil parallel to the
ground while sweeping it in a tight semicircle.
MINERALIZATION, you also slightly decrease the
sensitivity of your Gold Bug-2, and the retune speed
increases slightly. This increase in the retune speed
helps your Gold Bug-2 ignore abrupt changes in
ground mineralization and hot rocks, but it also results
in a slight decrease in sensitivity.
8. If, after switching to NORMAL MINERALIZATION, you
continue to hear ground chatter and false signals,
back off on the SENSITIVITY control again. Still having
problems? You must be in an area of extremely high
mineralization. The only way to hunt this area is in the
HIGH MINERALIZATION setting with the MODE switch
in NORMAL. As in the other MINERALIZATION settings,
back off on the SENSITIVITY control and readjust the
GROUND REJECT control as needed.
9. Avoid hunting in the IRON DISC mode unless the area
is so littered with ferrous trash that it’s impossible to
hunt in any other way. The IRON DISC mode will
cause your Gold Bug-2 to ignore ferrous objects and
hot rocks, but it may
also cause you to
miss small gold
nuggets. We
recommend that
you hunt in either the
NORMAL or AUDIO
BOOST modes, and
switch to the IRON
DISC mode to check
a target that has
already been dug.
Targets often come
out of the ground
covered with dirt,
and it’s impossible
to tell if they’re
SEARCHING
Figure 12.

17
PINPOINTING
Always use the same procedure to pinpoint with the Gold Bug-2,
regardless of control settings. With a little practice you’ll be able to
zero in on most targets quickly and accurately. Use this procedure:
1. Once a buried target is indicated by the “beep”
of the Gold Bug-2, continue sweeping the search
coil from side-to-side, narrowing the search pattern.
2. When you have narrowed the sweep as much as you
can and still hear the target, stop the search coil.
3. Now move the search coil forward and then
straight back toward you a couple of times. Stop
the search coil over the area where you get the
strongest response.
4. Move the search coil slowly side-to-side one more
time, stopping at the loudest target response.
5. Your target should be below the “HOT SPOT” of the
search coil, which is marked with a bull’s eye.
6. Slowly move the coil aside, keeping your eyes on
ferrous or gold. The IRON DISC mode, however,
will ignore most hot rocks and small a ferrous objects
while responding to gold and other nonferrous objects.
10. You can also use the IRON DISC mode to identify
many buried targets that produce a good, strong
signal. Once you have zeroed in on a target, switch
to IRON DISC and pass the coil over it. If you still
get a response, dig it.
NOTE: Keep in mind that the IRON DISC mode is not 100-percent
accurate. Small and/or deep nuggets giving faint target
responses will often be ignored in the IRON DISC mode.
Conversely, large iron objects, like a railroad spike, may
produce a good signal in the IRON DISC mode. Remember, when
in doubt, dig!
SEARCHING

18
TARGET RECOVERY
The moment of truth!
But not so fast . . . take your time. You may have pinpointed a
target, but that doesn’t mean you can reach down and pick up
a nugget. Even if it’s lying on top of the ground, you’re going to
have to determine which of those pebbles really is a gold
nugget. And if you have to dig for it, you’ll have to determine
which handful of dirt is pay dirt. But the worst part is that most of
your targets won’t be gold. They’ll be nails, bullets, junk, hot rocks,
etc. The only way to be absolutely sure is to dig them up.
1. Your objective is to recover your target neatly and
quickly, leaving virtually no trace of your
excavation. Repeat: No trace of your excavation.
If you leave the area looking like a battlefield,
blame only yourself if it’s been declared off limits
to metal detectors when you return.
2. Your digging tool should be selected for the type of
soil you’re in. Most nuggets are found in hard, dry,
the spot where the HOT SPOT was, and quickly mark
the target location with your finger or digging tool.
7. For very strong signals, you may improve your
pinpointing accuracy by adding one or more of
the following steps:
1) Lift the coil until the signal is just barely heard.
2) Lower the sensitivity level.
3) Rest the coil on the ground and move it back
and forth very slowly.
8. For very weak signals, try the following:
1) Switch to the AUDIO BOOST mode.
2) Move the coil closer to the ground.
3) Increase the sensitivity level. Recheck your
ground adjustment.
4) Speed up the sweep rate slightly.
PINPOINTING