The next time you are there. Go up where the stream used to run. Turn a few rocks over and get the gravel under the rocks. Its easier to get those nuggets. Plus... Take a metal detector over the old dry part of the river. I pray you much success. I miss panning.
You are so lucky to have a gold bearing river just down the road from home mate. Here in NZ we have tons of black iron orr sand all about the place but no gold. Wet suites can be one of the coldest bits of things to put on as you had, but if you were to put water between your body and that suite will now that will be warm in fact it will likely be a bulky interference to use. Put on your long jones mate you will find toughs a better fit to what you're doing, over here we have what is called a swandri it's a kind of cape thing but made of pour wool both inside and out and some have attached hoods which can only be a plus. Love doing what you're doing keep on sending in your tapes for us unlikely miners to sit and watch and wish :)
