I met a couple of guys that panned for gold in a creek running through a town of about 100k people. They said they got a lot more than the remote creeks where all the other gold seekers are.

If no one stops you, it's worth a shot. Just be sure to have good waders, and learn the basics of prospecting and panning. It takes practice, but it isn't too complicated. It does take work though! There's a reason why gold is expensive. The bonus is that you're working in a nice setting during a warm day.