Clamming this weekend

[Jeremy]

Looking to go clamming in or around newport this weekend, any tips or tricks? I have never been before so am looking for the basics, thanks, for the info,
Jeremy

[Snapset]

Jeremy, you picked a good weekend to learn clamming. Go under the bridge on the south side of the bridge an hour before low tide. There will be dozens, if not hundreds of people there, so I am not exactly giving away secrets here. In this area you will find gapers and cockles. Cockles can be raked using one of those little four tined "Scratcher" rakes you use in your garden. Look for where other people are scratching for them. For the Gapers, you are best off using a garden or clam shovel with a long handle. Along with the shovels, bring a dozen willow sticks about 2 feet long. Watch where everybody else is digging. Look for a hole the size of a quarter or a dimple the size of golf ballmark.

When you find a hole, put a willow stick it. It will sink slowly into the sand as the clam retracts its neck. Take your time, gapers aren't going anywhere. Now dig along the clam hole, with the stick to guide you. When you get down to the level of the clam, pull him out. Rain pants or waders are helpful, as you will be kneeling in wet sand.

Bigger cockles are available in Waldport. I am taking a bunch of Boy Scouts to Newport Saturday morning, so wave hi if you see us. We will have a big white Dodge Conversion Van or a 92 Ford 2 tone brown diesel Xtended cab.

[Ramstrong]

Yeah, what Snapset said.
Down in Coos Bay we have a little trick for getting the gapers. They aren't going anywhere, so once you get your dowel or willow stick or whatever you are using down. Take a 5 gallon bucket with the bottom cut out of it and work it into the mud with the dowel forming a bullseye in the center. It only takes about a minute to do this, and it will keep your hole from collapsing.

[Ramstrong]

The dowel will make the clam retract it's neck, lowering the chances of you cutting it with the shovel. It also will let you know at what angle and approximately how deep the clam is.

[Pilar]

Razor clams at Gearhart, Saturday morning? Del Rey Beach? Threemuch?

0600 on the beach?

[Slow Roll]

Not gonna make it Saturday, planning a Sunday morning trip. Tide is later in the day and I have a hard enough time getting my girlfriend out of bed that early on a weekend. She works 6 to 3 every day and is not real thrilled about getting up that early on weekends. [img]graemlins/icon_argue.gif[/img]

Unless I am misreading the tide charts again the low tide is 8:20 on Sunday. Somebody please correct me if this is wrong.

Paul B.

[Threemuch]

Already going. I will be at the beach at 6am, north of the Del Rey access. Stop by. I am working on the boat after. Unless we finish really early, then I may go try to dig a different species elswhere.

Anyone who wants a ride, and doesn't mind watching me work on the boat for a couple of hours and a detour through garibaldi, meet me at the McDonalds at the glencoe road exit in North Plains. Or call me tonight on my cell 503.756.9078.

KB

[Jeremy]

What is the reason for the dowel or the willow stick??? Just so you know where the hole is, or does it affect the clam somehow? Thanks for the info,
Jeremy