I find small nuggets on public land all the time. The secret is to look where gold has been found already. If it is rich enough you can still file a mining claim.
“The secret is to look where gold has been found already.”
Correct.
We used to hit the old claims and work the tailings. They got most of the big stuff back during the gold rush days, but their sluices and dredges were inefficient and the finer placer flakes would pass through.
We’d move rocks to get to the bottom and bring buckets of black sand home and pan them out during the winter months.
Even though it’s been 40+ years ago, I think I’m starting to get gold fever again.