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Gold-panning at Allatoona gaining
popularity in today’s economy
By
Pamela A. Keene
 “We’re
not quitting our day jobs,” said Rob Kelly with the Allatoona Gold
Panners, an informal group of prospectors who take to the streams
and creeks of Allatoona Lake on the weekends. “It’s less expensive
than playing golf, and at the end of the day we have more than a
piece of paper to show for it.”
Kelly, who works for an environmental clean-up
engineering firm, is quick to point out that the group is laid back,
with no formal membership structure, dues or officers. “We just call
around the night before and pick a spot to meet,” he said. “It’s all
very laid back.”
Some of the group have been panning for decades in
the streams and creeks of the lake, which contains part of the
Dahlonega gold belt on public lands. But don’t get too excited about
striking it rich.
 “Mostly
we find pepper-sized flakes of gold in a three- to four-hour
afternoon, but not much more,” Kelly said. “It’s a recreational
thing, a lot like fishing. We just get together to have a good
time.”
Panners come together by way of a night-before
telephone call designating a place to meet. There may be as many as
six who turn out, but most of the time there are only three or four
who come equipped with Garrett pans, prospector’s pouches and maps.
The group also takes trips to various panning locations across the
Southeast as well as bringing out scout and school groups from time
to time.
Kelly said that there are at least 25 creeks on
Allatoona where he has found gold flakes. His total take from 10
years of panning has amounted to about three-fourths of an ounce.
“Every now and then we find some small nuggets about the size of
bird shot, but that’s pretty rare. On a good day at a good creek,
you might make minimum wage.”
The Allatoona Gold Panners occasionally host dinner
meetings on an irregular schedule. The best way to find out more
about the club, which doesn’t have a website, is to call either Rob
Kelly at 770-516-7044 or Dave Perkey at 770-265-4130.
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