Step one, you should try and connect with me so I can properly teach you how to pan. Using a pan is fundamental for sampling, It's not difficult but if you don't know how or what you're looking for you'll quickly become discouraged.
I highly recommend watching Jeff Williams videos, he makes geology fun and that ain't easy. Watch them then watch them again and again.
A good modern gold detector starts around $650 for the Fischer Gold Bugs or drop $850 on a simpler but more sensitive Minelab Gold Monster. There's a long, long learning curve for each and you'll mostly dig lead up for a long time. I'd get more familiar with geology and mining laws first.
To find gold you have to be on gold and know what signs to look for. You should be familiar with quartz, cobble, bedrock and contact zones. Look for hematite because gold wears an iron hat.
Last week I found a hematite deposit on the claim that's just begging to be processed. But it's too wet for dry washing and it will take a Herculean effort to get a hi banker, water and equipment up the hill where it's located.
I carried less than 4 gallons of dirt down the hill to pan out at home last Tuesday, and here's the result. I think it's safe to say I'm on the gold.