I’ve been using the Fisher CZ-21 Metal Detector since it was introduced to the market about three years ago. Although I owned a CZ-20 in the past and there are many similarities between the two, my focus in this article will be the CZ-21. I may do a comparison article in the future.
The Fisher CZ-21 metal detector is a heavy machine that is “built like a tank”. The weight can be compensated for by either hip mounting it or using a chest harness. Fisher makes a good chest harness for this purpose, and using it is my preferred method for detecting in the water. The body of the detector easily slides off the wand, and easily slides on to the harness.
The Fisher CZ-21 is a VLF type detector and is built to be waterproof to a depth of 250′. Realistically though, most people will use it in the water to only about neck deep. I hunt primarily in fresh water and can usually detect at a very high sensitivity level. In salt water, I need to set the sensitivity down quite a bit and carefully ground balance or I get a lot of “falsing”. Fisher claims that lowering the sensitivity only effects the depth slightly.There is no meter on this detector, but it does have a three tone identification system that I really like. 
Fisher CZ-21 Metal Detector Features
The CZ-21 has a volume boost that makes the deeper signals louder while moderating the sounds of a target closer to the surface. While some people don’t use this feature because it’s almost impossible to determine the depth of the target, I use it because I like to catch those fainter sounds, and I’m going to dig the good tones in any case no matter what the depth. As I mentioned before, the CZ-21 has a 3 tone identification system. I recommend always digging the mid and high tone signals. The high tones usually designate coins and silver, while the mid tone usually means there is gold, aluminum foil, or pull tabs. The lowest tone designates iron, so if you use any discrimination at all, you seldom hear that tone.Battery strength can be determined by turning the volume and discrimination knobs up to ten. The CZ-21 will give you between 30 to 40 hours of detecting time on a set of four 9 volt batteries.
Many users don’t care much for the design of the pinpoint button. You basically have to “tap” it to switch back and forth from all metals mode to discrimination mode. For those who like to have a click sound when using the button, Fisher has an adhesive clicker that can easily be attached to the pinpoint button. Although I seldom use the pinpoint button to locate my target, I do use the adhesive clicker on the button.
My Experience with the Fisher CZ-21 Metal Detector
I find the discrimination on the CZ-21 good. By setting it at 1, I eliminate almost all iron and can concentrate on the better targets. Unfortunately, at discrimination level 1, you do dig quite a few pull tabs and aluminum foil. But this is the range where you’ll find gold, so I put up with digging some junk. Any higher discrimination and you may pick up some of the larger gold items, but you’ll miss the smaller ones like thin diamond engagement rings and earrings.
More could be said about the CZ-21′s features and use, and I probably will in the future, but for now I just wanted to give my personal feelings about the detector. In sum, I will say that I really like this metal detector. I’ve tried several other water metal detectors, but find the learning curve on the CZ-21 somewhat easier than the others I’ve tried. I like the ruggedness of the CZ-21, the good depth I get, the long battery life, and it’s ease of operation. I’ve found lots of gold, silver, and coins with the CZ-21, and it has more than paid for itself in a very short time. What more could I ask for?
More Details and How to Get a Discount on the Fisher CZ-21 Metal Detector
If you would like more information on the Fisher CZ-21, or would like to purchase it on sale below it’s retail price, you can use my affiliate link for the Fisher CZ-21 metal detector to get the discounted price.