Over the weekend me and several buddies from high school got together for our 19th annual river trip on the Guadalupe river just below Canyon lake. Late Saturday afternoon we were throwing a skipping water ball across the river and having a great time. After throwing the ball 20+ times I felt my ring come off as I let the ball go and started to lower my hand back towards chest after a perfect throw. I know about where it went but we looked for over an hour with no luck. The problem was that the water was 4-5' deep and there's a good 10" of silt/muck at the bottom. The water is practically not moving in this stretch of the river and because of the silt and water depth. I don't see how it can go very far anytime soon.

Does anyone have any experience finding something like an Aggie ring in 4-5' of water as described above?
It seems that there are several options for under water metal detectors but I have practically no experience with metal detectors. Maybe there are other tools that work better?

If any of you guys can offer advice or help I would be so incredibly appreciative!!

Also, I'm definitely aware of the fact that I'm a dumb a** for wearing my ring in the water. I always take it off but I forgot this year when we first got in the water to float and didn't think about it by the time we got back to camp and climbed back into the water. I've beat myself up pretty bad about it since it happened because I knew better. I made a terrible decision and it may cost me a pretty penny if I can't some how end up finding it.

Call local dive shops and see if they have someone who can find it with an underwater metal detector. Should be fairly straightforward since you know where it is.

Whether you pay someone to dive or buy a detector for yourself, I'd recommend getting in there ASAP.

Used to know a guy that would get together with a group of friends and snorkel the river looking for rings, knives etc. Usually found a pretty good haul. You might try to do the same.

Below the dam a ways? Or a cove area? I have used wire mesh stapled on staking boards, it works good in mud. The day we went to get a wedding ring I lost my dive watch. Never could find it, but we did find the ring. Used to hang out on river road at many of the shutes and collect stuff.

I used an underwater one to find my ring in a stock pond. It wasn't that deep but worked well. I had it along with a mesh scoop to scoop the mud and filter. You're probably going to get a lot of hits from all the cans on the bottom there.

Make sure your information is updated with The Association in case someone else finds it and tries to find you.

I'm down on the Gonzales DeWitt county line. I'll keep an eye out for it.

All joking aside, hope you find it. It sucks to lose something that cost so much. Not just in college tuition, but lots of time and stress.

Second on the dive team. Seen lots of YouTube videos of the divers and things they find. Usually they try and return what they can.

Man Plus River. Contact him.

trouble said:

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Make sure your information is updated with The Association in case someone else finds it and tries to find you. so they can pay half the replacement cost.

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fify

I've been in contact with a few divers that I found on the Canyon Lake Divers Facebook page. One guy stopped by this afternoon but he didn't have a metal detector so he didn't have much luck. He will be back on Saturday with a metal detector if the second guy doesn't find it before then. I am currently talking with the second guy and the hope is he will be able to go out tomorrow afternoon. All of these guys are experienced in this sort of thing so I am hopeful they will be successful. They have a better shot than I do no matter what equipment I buy so I am at least hopeful!

There was an epic thread years ago about someone losing their aggie ring in a stock tank. LLts of theories about how to go about it, equipment, strategies, eetc. Maybe it was bmfvet. Can't remember.

RCR06 said:

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There was an epic thread years ago about someone losing their aggie ring in a stock tank. LLts of theories about how to go about it, equipment, strategies, eetc. Maybe it was bmfvet. Can't remember.

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someone has been around these parts for a bit

Here's hoping you find it OP.

Scud Runner said:

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Man Plus River. Contact him.

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This is the answer. Really cool guy with some good Ags for friends.

He has a link to contact him in his YouTube about section.

RCR06 said:

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There was an epic thread years ago about someone losing their aggie ring in a stock tank. LLts of theories about how to go about it, equipment, strategies, eetc. Maybe it was bmfvet. Can't remember.

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Dang, I had forgotten all about that. It was form 2007!!!

https://texags.com/forums/34/topics/943754/1#discussion

Thanks for digging it up. I wasn't sure what to search for or the time frame really.

Quick update: second guy went by yesterday and spent a couple hours looking with no luck. Lots of cans and other trash made it pretty difficult. He will try to go back on Thursday. Plan is still for the 1st guy to go out Saturday and I'll be there to help him if needed. I'm flying aerial surveys in San Saba county this week so cell service is spotty and TexAgs time is low.

Thank all of your for your advice etc. Will update when I get more information. I should be back home this evening so I will reach out to the man plus river guy too.

On the positive side, I am getting to see some awesome deer from the air this week.

Timbers did you ever get to meet William Tiller? He was an ole Ag I met years ago when I was looking for tickets. We bumped into each other as he was headed to give two tickets to the 12th man association for resale. I sat in some great seats and was invited after the game to the hotel...funny he and his wife stayed in the same hotel and room (La Quinta behind Denny's) for many many years. He wrote a book Helicopter Cowboy. I have it on my shelf with all my A&M books. Super interesting couple. He passed in 2014 I think.

I never met Mr. Tiller. I only recently started getting the privilege to ride in a helicopter for surveys and hog hunts for my clients. I don't really know many people from that world so far. I took over this business from a friend who was a retired TPWD biologist who then decided he wanted to retire from his post retirement job last year. I've still got a lot to learn in the flying world but the guys I've gotten to know so far have all been great. They all also have some incredible stories.

I will definitely look into that book though!

I just sent a note to Man Plus River to see if he would be interested in helping me find the ring.

I'll also say that my confidence in finding my ring is rapidly declining. It makes me sick to my stomach to think about having to purchase another ring after knowing what I paid in 2009. I sure hope one of these folks can somehow find the needle in a haystack...

The San Saba River today is basically dry but the scenery is beautiful!

If I still lived in that area I would head over and search. Unfortunately, every time another person searches there is that chance they are burying it further or spreading the search site out more, but what can you do but keep looking. Is it in an area where you could bring a vehicle in? Or off the path so far you can only bring your person?
I ask because I have seen folks use vacuums. You could run one off a truck and a inverter.

If you're D Webb '02, the class of 2002 just posted on facebook that your ring was found at the bottom of the lake.

Schall 02 said:

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If you're D Webb '02, the class of 2002 just posted on facebook that your ring was found at the bottom of the lake.

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https://m.facebook.com/groups/TAMUClassof2002/permalink/5264759940239602/?m_entstream_source=group

Dude!! That's my one of my best buds ring! We were having a good ole time at the lake that weekend. Can't believe someone found it! We were all devastated when he lost it.
His wife found the post of Facebook!

Nothing like the Aggie network!

Whoop!

I think that is a lake up by Fort Worth, this ring was lost in the Guadalupe. Good find though.

chickencoupe16 said:

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Scud Runner said:

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Man Plus River. Contact him.

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This is the answer. Really cool guy with some good Ags for friends.

He has a link to contact him in his YouTube about section.

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You weren't lying, Man Plus River does in fact have some good Ags for friends. One of those guys, class of '00, contacted me Wednesday night. We chatted for a bit yesterday morning and Man Plus River is out of the country at the moment but he should be back soon. The '00 ag went out yesterday and looked for a bit with no luck. He is currently developing a game plan with Man Plus River so they can tackle it when M+R gets back in town.

The second guy I mentioned earlier in the week went out again yesterday for some time until the rain forced him to leave (he had his wife and kiddo with him). He might actually go back out this afternoon but I'm not certain of that.

At this point I feel like the best chance will be M+R and team with the additional tools and technology they will have.

As we were leaving the river Sunday 8/7 I joked with my buddies that I guess it will be cool one day when my great-great-grandkids find the ring because the river went dry. It is starting to feel like that is the most likely outcome. At least the replacement ring ordering window will be in 10 days or so and I can drive the nail in the coffin to the most expensive camping trip I have ever taken!

I'll try to keep updating as anything new happens.



In meantime here is a picture of me and my princess outdoors

Update?

This picture will have to serve as an update until I can sit down give you guys the details!!!

Great news!

Great result and great photo. Congrats man!

I look forward to Man + River's YouTube of the search. Hopefully he was recording?

Congrats on getting it back, seemed like a 1 in a million chance, but WHY would you wear something so precious in water, hunting, hiking whatever?

Either way good bull