Question on GPAA Gold panning competion format

[RiverGold]

I will be going to a GPAA gold show in Portland, Maine. I would like to practice for the gold panning competition. Does anybody know what kind of format they use? Specifically, what size gold do they use, how many pieces and how much dirt? I would appreciate input from anybody who has actually entered the competition at a GPAA show before.

I am used to panning for fine gold, which is a slow process. I will need to modify my technique for larger mesh material.

[Hoser John]

4-8 seconds are the usual times to win and nuttn' but a slosh dump and dumb luck to win-John

[wallymi]

Johns right, the nuggets (3 of them) are a little bit bigger than 3/16th and flat. The pan will be about half full of course sand with no stones. where you lose time is picking up the nuggets.my method is 2 seconds to get them to the bottom,2-4 seconds to get the them to the corner with all sand gone and all nuggets in one place together and pick them all up together, don't stop till you can see all nuggets,2 seconds to pick them up 4-6 seconds may put you in second place...I have three of those pans..Good Luck wallyMi

[RiverGold]

Thanks, Wally! That is just the kind of information I was looking for. That should give me enough guidance to practice.

[Tanqd]

4-6 seconds huh? That is exactly the way it is on the river bank. Sheesh.

[RiverGold]

Wally, I have two more questions if you don't mind. Do they let you use your own pan? What type did you use?

[wallymi]

No can't use your pan, they use the standard GPAA large pan.wallyMi

[RiverGold]

Thanks, Wally. I ordered a new GPAA gold pan to practice with. Too bad they wont let you use metal pans, as they seem to work better for me when I want to do a lot of fast sampling. They seem to be less sticky than my plastic ones, in terms of keeping my material from compacting.

Randy