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Detector specifications
Best for
Highlighted icons show the targets, ground and experience level this detector is built for.
- Coin & Relic — not suited to this detector
- Gold — shop all
- Beach & Water — not suited to this detector
- Kids — not suited to this detector
- Beginner / Intermediate — not suited to this detector
- Advanced / Expert — shop all
The Fisher Gold Bug 2 is a 71 kHz VLF gold detector for prospectors chasing small nuggets in mineralized ground, here with the 6.5 inch elliptical waterproof search coil. It has manual ground balance, Normal, Boost and Disc modes, VCO audio and a control box that can ride on the handle or on your hip, at 2.9 lb on two 9V batteries.
| Configuration | |
|---|---|
| Detector | Fisher Gold Bug 2, 71 kHz VLF |
| Coil(s) | 6.5 inch elliptical waterproof search coil |
| Headphones | 1/4 inch jack for wired headphones |
What is in the box with the Fisher Gold Bug 2
Fisher's standard contents for the Gold Bug 2 with 6.5 inch coil
- Fisher Gold Bug 2 detector with control box, adjustable stem, padded armrest and foam grip
- 6.5 inch elliptical waterproof search coil
- Two 9V alkaline batteries
About the Fisher Gold Bug 2
The Fisher Gold Bug 2 is a VLF gold detector that runs at 71 kHz, a frequency Fisher chose for small gold nuggets in mineralized ground. Fisher's owner's manual gives it three modes: Normal, an all metal mode with normal sensitivity and fast retune; Boost, which makes faint signals louder while strong signals stay at the same level; and Disc, which ignores hot rocks and ferrous objects. Audio is VCO, so the tone climbs in pitch and volume as the coil nears a target, and a threshold control sets the faint background hum you listen against. The detector weighs 2.9 lb with its cushioned armrest and foam grip, runs on two 9V batteries and takes headphones with a 1/4 inch plug.
Ground balance and mineralization on the Gold Bug 2
Ground balance on the Gold Bug 2 is manual. Fisher's manual has you bob the coil from about 6 inches above the ground to within an inch of it while you turn the Ground Reject knob, until the threshold stays the same as the coil moves; turning the knob quickly makes a coarse change and turning it slowly a fine one, and the LCD shows the setting. A Mineralization button sets Low, Normal or High in Normal and Boost modes: Low gives the most sensitivity for mild ground with little trash, Normal suits most gold bearing soils, and High reduces sensitivity for extremely mineralized ground. We would rebalance every time the soil color changes, because hot ground can shift within a few steps.
We would use Disc mode as a check, not a search mode. Fisher notes that it ignores hot rocks and ferrous objects and that small gold may be missed in it, so we would hunt in Normal or Boost, then switch to Disc over a signal: gold and other non-ferrous metal gives a solid beep, while some iron chirps or clicks. There is no numeric target ID, so dig decisions come from the sound. To pinpoint, Fisher's manual has you narrow the sweep, stop over the strongest response and look under the bull's eye hot spot marked on the coil.
Gold Bug 2 search coils
Fisher's Gold Bug 2 manual lists interchangeable elliptical search coils in 6.5, 10 and 14 inch sizes, all waterproof and shielded against static, on a 7 foot cable. The 6.5 inch coil on this detector fits into bedrock cracks, between boulders and into brushy, trashy patches, and its small footprint sees less hot ground at once. For open washes and tailings, we would add the 10 inch coil later. Fisher's manual asks you to hand tighten the coil connector only, never with tools.
Where the Gold Bug 2 fits, and its limits
The Gold Bug 2 belongs in gold country: dry washes, bedrock, benches, tailings and worked patches where the gold that is left is small. The searchcoils are waterproof, while the control box is dust and moisture resistant rather than waterproof; Fisher's manual suggests a plastic bag or the optional rain cover in rain, so the coil can go into a creek while the control box stays dry. The control box converts from handle mount to hip mount with belt loops on its underside, which takes weight off the arm on long days. Its limits come with its focus: there is no target ID screen, ground balance is manual and takes practice, and at 71 kHz it is a gold machine rather than a coin and relic detector. For relics and coins, the 19 kHz Fisher Gold Bug Pro gives you a 2 digit target ID and Ground Grab; for deep nuggets in very hot goldfields, compare the pulse induction options in our gold detectors collection.
Fisher Gold Bug family compared
| Feature | Gold Bug | Gold Bug Pro | Gold Bug 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequency | 19 kHz | 19 kHz | 71 kHz |
| Search modes | All Metal, Discrimination | All Metal, Discrimination | Normal, Boost, Disc |
| Ground balance | Ground Grab | Ground Grab plus manual | Manual (Ground Reject knob) |
| Target ID | 2 digit | 2 digit | None (audio only) |
| Ground phase and Fe3O4 readout | Yes | Yes | No |
| Fisher coil options | 5 inch DD round, 10 inch and 11 inch DD elliptical | 5 inch DD round, 10 inch and 11 inch DD elliptical | 6.5, 10 and 14 inch elliptical |
| Battery | 1 x 9V, about 15 to 20 hours | 1 x 9V, about 15 to 20 hours | 2 x 9V, 25 to 35 hours (alkaline) |
| Weight | 2.5 lb (1.13 kg) | 2 lb 8 oz (1.13 kg) with 5 inch coil | 2.9 lb |
| Warranty | 2 years | 2 years | 2 years |
The Gold Bug DP and the two coil Gold Bug Pro package are configurations of the Gold Bug Pro, so they share its column.
Fisher Gold Bug 2 specifications
| Specification | Fisher Gold Bug 2 |
|---|---|
| Technology | VLF, 71 kHz |
| Search modes | Normal, Boost, Disc (iron and hot rock rejection) |
| Ground balance | Manual, Ground Reject knob (fine or coarse) |
| Mineralization setting | Low, Normal, High |
| Audio | VCO with adjustable threshold |
| Target ID | None |
| Search coil | 6.5 inch elliptical waterproof search coil |
| Coil options | 6.5, 10 and 14 inch elliptical |
| Waterproof | Search coils waterproof; control box dust and moisture resistant |
| Mounting | Handle or hip mount |
| Headphones | 1/4 inch jack |
| Batteries | 2 x 9V; 25 to 35 hours alkaline |
| Weight | 2.9 lb |
| Warranty | 2 years |
The Gold Bug 2 is made in the USA, and Fisher covers it with a 2 year warranty.
Authorized Fisher dealer with a showroom in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Full manufacturer warranty and help from our staff by phone or email.
Customer Questions & Expert Answers
What advantages does the 71kHz operating frequency provide over lower-frequency detectors?
How does the manual ground balance system affect performance in variable terrain?
What is the difference between Audio Boost mode and Normal mode in real-world detection scenarios?
Can the Iron Discrimination mode be used while searching, or is it best as a target check?
How does the retune speed vary across the Mineralization settings?
Can I use aftermarket coils or other Fisher coils with the Gold Bug II?
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