Oh We could talk about scoops all day long!
Well, heres the deal..you sort of need 2 of them, a short light one with about a 36" handle for working the dry sand beaches and volleyball courts and sand totters...($60)
Then, you need a sturdy Water scoop specifically for the wet...($160) est...
The barrier to entry for hunting the water is all the extra gear a person needs....So lets say you are gonna be with mid range rig, (AtPro) scoops, proper footgear, waders, wetsuit and all, at least $1000 before you even get wet!..!.
ROI calculation....just to break even you need to find 10 14k 4gr rings!..That might take you YEARS depending on where you live and how dedicated you are...
For most, Its easier and in the end more profitable to just hunt parks and totters with any old $200 rig pulling clad and jewelry with a screwdriver...easy and fast payoff...
Luckily, a barely used scoop has a resale value if you find out this is not for you....Water hunting aint for everybody, its tough, and you are digging it all mostly, so it can get depressing....Most of us live close by to magnificent beaches and lakes, so thats why we do it....
Also, a lot of us have made several attempts at making a scoop...Easy right? NOPE!
Still, the effort gives a guy an appreciation for a good scoop and after several homemade failures, will gladly pay the money!
In your area, like ours, those swimming areas get quite busy, so you have to go very early or at night or in the Winter for best results....
I like narrow scoops...Especially in creeks where you have rocks and stuff, but even on the beach I use a small bucket 5"... Good Luck!
Notice how nice and shiny they are!
