Diggin razors in the dark

Jimmy Carl Black · 11-17-2003, 06:30 PM

How do you manage your lanterns while digging in the surf? Last time I went out I was trying to get my last couple clams to round out a limit and couldn't see...even with my wife holding the lantern for me. [img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img]

Fshklr · 11-17-2003, 06:49 PM

Practice, practice, practice.

I extend my arm at shoulders heigth and about a 45 degree angle and hold the handle of the lantern at an incline of 5 degrees or so, so it's slightly tilted backwards. Keep your eyes focused on the sand or waters edge and what ever you do, don't look at the light. I usually will do the holding and point out the shows. Its easier for the light holder to focus on the sand for the digger to come in and get the clam working as a team. ...good luck :grin:

[ 11-17-2003, 07:52 PM: Message edited by: Fshklr ]

Mr. Fisherman · 11-17-2003, 09:44 PM

Maybe your wife is too pretty and you can't focus on the shows...
Try getting an ugly fishing partner to hold the lantern

Maybe if you were home more often instead of out fishing with Hogemin this wouldn't be such a distraction

[img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

Mr. Fisherman · 11-17-2003, 09:46 PM

Oh yea, try LIGHTING the lantern...

HOGGEMIN · 11-17-2003, 10:09 PM

Ouch that almost hurt Ray, but I have no fellings LOL you arn't jealous are you Ray. I'll invite you next time. Hey Jimmy Carl Black try using a haligeon head lamp they work for me. Maybe we could pick mushrooms in the dark also.

Mr. Fisherman · 11-17-2003, 10:12 PM

Come on now Mike, I didn't tell him to have YOU hold the lantern :grin:

But hey, if it gets me invited on a fishing trip....

puffins crew · 11-18-2003, 07:17 AM

What?? None of you guys have a "Clam Dog"?? :shocked: :grin:

I must

to the Clam dog, he can smell'm, I swear!!

Peace, tom

Jimmy Carl Black · 11-18-2003, 07:55 AM

That's it. I'll use my beagle for something yet. :grin:
Mr. Fisherman, I guess maybe I should hold the lantern.

Thanks for the hints everybody. I'm going to be more persistent (and prepared) next time and limit out.

puffins crew · 11-18-2003, 01:29 PM

Yep, Pilar, thats the one. Just amazing to watch. If you are there, and he says where to dig, START DIGGEN!! cause there is a nice clam there for sure.

Peace, tom

Miss B Haven · 11-18-2003, 01:46 PM

Tom- Now you know if you take your dog he's gotta have his own bucket right? :grin:

puffins crew · 11-18-2003, 01:48 PM

Thats for sure, Mel!! And extra limit!! :grin:

Peace, Tom

Pilar · 11-18-2003, 11:52 PM

The clam dog is about 6' 1" and 280 lbs. You might know him by the name 'Puffin'. That is one clam spotting Mo fo. Nobody can dig as fast as he can find.

Dave's not here · 11-19-2003, 04:55 PM

There was a Jimmy Carl Black that played with Frank Zappa.Probebly not the same one?

Jimmy Carl Black · 11-20-2003, 06:00 AM

Not me, but I dedicated my moniker. I'm a big fan of the mothers and I like to play the blankets on occasion.

Hook-up · 11-22-2003, 09:11 PM

I went clamming with a friend a few weeks back and he had a neat setup on his lantern. He made a bit bigger reflector (I am guessing about 6 inches wide). I think it was made from flashing material. It not only reflected the light better, but it seemed to help keep the bright light from hitting you in the eyes so bad. Basically it looked like he just extended the reflector (top) a bit and continued down at the same angle as the top that comes with it. I think he pop riveted on but I guess you could do it with small screws.

Pilar · 11-24-2003, 10:56 AM

My grandpa used to gig flounder in the Florida Panhandle (East Bay). They would use a small flatbottom skiff, a lantern with a reflector on it and an 8' handle with a flounder gig on it.

You pole the boat with the gig handle across 2' deep flats at night and the lantern hangs on the bow of the boat right over the water. I mention this because everybody doing this had a homemade tin reflector/eye shield on the lantern. Just bend a rectangle of aluminum sheetmetal so it fits between the top hood and bottom section and blocks the light around 1/3 of the lantern. Use a small tab at the 4 corners of the area under the hood to pop rivet it to the hood and the base. The ends of the aluminum stick out beyond the globe a few inches on each side, bent forward from the center and you hold the lantern so that the reflector is between you and the bright spots.

From what I saw when I went floundering with Grandpa using this setup will greatly increase your vision as your night adaptation will not get repeatedly blown by the bright spots of the mantles. This was essential for spotting the outline of the camouflaged flounders. I think I might try it here on clams next time I go.