Razor clams?

[lokidog]

If you come to twin harbors send me a pm i live in aberdeen...ill help a fellow member out

 

And some people say people on this site are not helpful. 

[Lcl 66 Tinner]

Can you post a link to the clam tides?

[deerhunter_98520]

Btw i charge by the hour for clam digging lessons so the slower learner you are the better 

[Becky]

Copalis and Mocrocks are only open Saturday, and those would be the ones I'd choose for a new digger. Long Beach with the softer sand seems to take FOREVER to dig your limit. It's a night dig so bring a lantern and for sure some head lamps. Hopefully it won't be raining too much on the coast! Clam shows are a lot more deceptive in the rain drops

Copalis = Ocean Shores and north up to Copalis River.
Mocrocks = north of that.

For your daughters/wife (and maybe even you) the night digs get really hard on your hands from the freezing cold temperatures so a good trick I've done is wear regular thin plastic medical gloves underneath a pair of thin fabric gloves (which will end up soaked usually, hence the medical gloves underneath). The big waterproof/insulated gloves I've always had to take off because you need more mobility in your hands if you're using clam guns.

Oh, and cleaning isn't too bad if you make everyone participate! It'll go real quick, start a line basically have one person with tongs and the pot of water boiling to pop open the clam, give it to the next person to de-shell and snip the siphons and separate the insides and stomach area, have someone else cleaning out the diggers/stomach... it'll go by fast haha. http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfish/razorclams/clean_prepare.html is helpful with pictures.

It's fun and easy once you get the hang of it, good luck!

[lokidog]

You do not need to precook/heat your clams to open them!  These are not steamers or oysters.  A filet knife will slide right in to cut the adductor muscles and allow the shell to open all the way.

I use a light weight liner in either a pair of heavy duty (orange) rubber gloves or neoprene ones.  Works great for using a gun, might be wetter if jamming your hands into the surf.

[deerhunter_98520]

You guys all sound like your coming from the middle of seattle  ...jeans and a sweatshirt  and no gloves with a headlamp...the only downfall with not using gloves is your hands get cold and cut up sometimes from the shells of your not carefull..but i think gloves just get in the way....and im usually done in 30min digging...unless its a really bad dig....using a gun is pretty easy for first timers.....i use a shovel....i think its more fun.....and as far as cleaning i just run hot tap water on them and they open right up...no reason to boil water 

[Becky]

You do not need to precook/heat your clams to open them!  These are not steamers or oysters.  A filet knife will slide right in to cut the adductor muscles and allow the shell to open all the way.

I use a light weight liner in either a pair of heavy duty (orange) rubber gloves or neoprene ones.  Works great for using a gun, might be wetter if jamming your hands into the surf.

A two second dip to open them is how I was always taught, or hot water, or just the heat from the steam.  I wasn't saying cook them lol. They still grasp the shell quit hard once cut open if they haven't been even slightly heated. I've done both ways though.

Yeah heavy rubber gloves work the same but get very slippery, was thinking more along the lines of insulation with the double layers (and the fabric gloves help grip) and no one mentioned gloves to him is why I suggested that. I'm thinking for a newbies perspective with 3 females out on the beach with him. Seasoned vets of clam digging can go out there, get clams in 30 mins or less, and not need a single thing but their gun/shovel.

[Becky]

You guys all sound like your coming from the middle of seattle  ...

The poster is from Kent, close enough? haha

[lokidog]

You guys all sound like your coming from the middle of seattle  ...jeans and a sweatshirt  and no gloves with a headlamp...the only downfall with not using gloves is your hands get cold and cut up sometimes from the shells of your not carefull..but i think gloves just get in the way....and im usually done in 30min digging...unless its a really bad dig....using a gun is pretty easy for first timers.....i use a shovel....i think its more fun.....and as far as cleaning i just run hot tap water on them and they open right up...no reason to boil water 

Some of just have more sensitive hands.     I do like to be comfortable though and find a lantern more useful than a headlamp for spotting the shows.  We took turns this year holding the lantern while the other dug which helped keep the lantern from getting ruined.

[WSU]

A quick dose of hot water does help.  It isn't required, but makes it easier.  Truthfully, I've had good luck at all beaches other than twin harbors.  I always get a limit, but the clams seem to be smaller at twin harbors.  If you go to long beach, head to the north end of the peninsula. 

[WSU]

Also, a latern is a lot better for night digs than a headlamp.

[Becky]

You guys all sound like your coming from the middle of seattle  ...jeans and a sweatshirt  and no gloves with a headlamp...the only downfall with not using gloves is your hands get cold and cut up sometimes from the shells of your not carefull..but i think gloves just get in the way....and im usually done in 30min digging...unless its a really bad dig....using a gun is pretty easy for first timers.....i use a shovel....i think its more fun.....and as far as cleaning i just run hot tap water on them and they open right up...no reason to boil water 

Some of just have more sensitive hands.     I do like to be comfortable though and find a lantern more useful than a headlamp for spotting the shows.  We took turns this year holding the lantern while the other dug which helped keep the lantern from getting ruined.

Lantern > head lamps, for sure. I always bring both for good measure

[SnakeEyes]

The clams at Grayland were nice size New Years weekend. Easy diggin. The beach is so flat we did not need boots.

[deerhunter_98520]

I agree a lantern is better but more of a pain especially if your in the water digging like me....bigger clams there.....ive always got big clams in pac beach....im usually by myself or with my huntin partner and we just dig to fast to deal with a lantern lol......with that said i have seen some nice ss lantern stands that keeps the lantern 2 ft off the ground i wouldnt mind trying out

[DRobnsn]

I agree a lantern is better but more of a pain especially if your in the water digging like me....bigger clams there.....ive always got big clams in pac beach....im usually by myself or with my huntin partner and we just dig to fast to deal with a lantern lol......with that said i have seen some nice ss lantern stands that keeps the lantern 2 ft off the ground i wouldnt mind trying out

You do know where to get those really nice aluminum and stainless Latern stands, right?