Prospecting and sampling a site for color in Angeles National Forest, 2/28/10. The idea is to hand pan for the presence of gold before you do any serious digging. 1. Find the gold line (inside curve of stream). 2. Locate a gravel deposit. 3. Dig a sample and classify (screen) to 1/4 inch. 4. Pan it and look for color. I’m at “Pry Bar Gulch” – a small canyon that is dry most of the year. I took advantage of a rainstorm the day before to pan while the small creek was running.