Razor clam digging

[3uPh0riK]

Will definitely go try again, but we were there (at twin harbors) for hours without any luck 

[j_h_nimrod]

As said earlier, if there are no people there are likely no clams. I don’t really like people, but generally find more clams if I follow the parade.

I like getting in the edge of the surf and “sandpipering”, chasing the surf up and down. I would likely do just as well in one spot, but I like moving!  I use waders during digging and don’t worry about the surf, it is nice!

[Bullkllr]

Went Clamming the other day (for the first time) at Twin Harbors and we were pretty much alone on the beach. I kinda expected to see a bunch of other clammers i could learn from. Didnt find a single clam. Watched the youtube videos that showed the "tells", but didnt see any of that.

Was also not sure how close to the surf to actually look for them, but regardless, found nothing

I would go a step farther and say if you were at Twin Harbors and were pretty much alone you were either there on a day it was not open or you were there on the wrong tide.
If it were open, and you were there anywhere around low tide, there would be vehicles and clammers all over the place from the south jetty to Tokeland.

[blackpowderhunter]

Went Clamming the other day (for the first time) at Twin Harbors and we were pretty much alone on the beach. I kinda expected to see a bunch of other clammers i could learn from. Didnt find a single clam. Watched the youtube videos that showed the "tells", but didnt see any of that.

Was also not sure how close to the surf to actually look for them, but regardless, found nothing

I would go a step farther and say if you were at Twin Harbors and were pretty much alone you were either there on a day it was not open or you were there on the wrong tide.
If it were open, and you were there anywhere around low tide, there would be vehicles and clammers all over the place from the south jetty to Tokeland.

agreed..i've never been out clamming and been alone.
what day were you out and what time vs the tide were you there?  the beaches will be empty until that hour or 2 up to low tide, then everyone shows up.

[The Marquis]

Seems like people start actually clamming about 2.5 hours before, but the big parade doesn't start until 2 hours before the lowest tide.

[Moe the Sleaze]

I've been digging for 40 years.  One of the things I have discovered is that you can actually start digging TOO EARLY.  The state recommends 2 hours before low tide.  I've come to consider 1.5 hrs before low a better choice.  If you start 2, 2.5, or 3 hours early, what happens a lot is you get demoralized because the clams just aren't showing yet. This leads to impatience, a feeling of wanting to move somewhere else, lots of very tiring "false" digs, and just general floundering about.  In winter, all the while becoming cold, wet, and miserable.  Few are the people who can hang out 3 hours until the low.  People give up just when they should be paying attention.

If clams are there, and are going to show, then 1.5 hrs should be plenty.  As far as "moving to a better spot", I've developed a protocol that seems to work.  If you are within the 1.5 hr window, and you don't get any clams within a half-hour, move 1/2 mile down the beach.  This should allow two moves before the tide begins to come back in.  Remember, there is an approximately 20-minute slack at low.

[HntnFsh]

 That can be pretty true. I enjoy getting down to the surf and wandering around. The weather doesn't bother me so a lot of times I'll be 2.5 to 3 hrs. before low tide. Sunday before last we had our very easy limits and headed down the hiway 2.5 hrs. before low tide!

[doyourtime89]

Did anyone get out to or know anyone that went to Kalaloch this past dig when they opened it up and if so, how was it?  How big were they? 

[j_h_nimrod]

Did anyone get out to or know anyone that went to Kalaloch this past dig when they opened it up and if so, how was it?  How big were they?

  Kalaloch clamming

Does that sum it up?  I only went one day and strictly basing it on clams it was one of the worst days ever. I think I saw the biggest haul at 3 and heard of a possible 5. Size was 3-4” tops. Day was great otherwise

[The Marquis]

Did anyone get out to or know anyone that went to Kalaloch this past dig when they opened it up and if so, how was it?  How big were they?

  Kalaloch clamming

Does that sum it up?  I only went one day and strictly basing it on clams it was one of the worst days ever. I think I saw the biggest haul at 3 and heard of a possible 5. Size was 3-4” tops. Day was great otherwise

Yikes!  Is that typical of that beach?  It's too far of a drive to ever be on my radar, but I don't often see it open.  Seems like it'd be a good beach for Razor's, but 3-5?  Yikes. 

[JimmyHoffa]

Did anyone get out to or know anyone that went to Kalaloch this past dig when they opened it up and if so, how was it?  How big were they?

  Kalaloch clamming

Does that sum it up?  I only went one day and strictly basing it on clams it was one of the worst days ever. I think I saw the biggest haul at 3 and heard of a possible 5. Size was 3-4” tops. Day was great otherwise

Yikes!  Is that typical of that beach?  It's too far of a drive to ever be on my radar, but I don't often see it open.  Seems like it'd be a good beach for Razor's, but 3-5?  Yikes.

It used to be pretty good.  If you got there right about the tide shift, then you could get your limits pretty quick--20 minutes or so for big clams.  I went right before it was closed down and the beach was getting absolutely hammered.  There were lots of brush pickers being set out and they were digging trenches pretty much the length of the beach.  Most were using regular spade shovels and digging, then sorting the sand for their clams.  The season after that the park claimed something caused a big crash, but didn't elaborate.  A couple years later the park said they had unusually high numbers of clams, but they were all tiny (less than an inch). Then was a test fishery follwed by closure because too few of decent size.

[opdinkslayer]

Here’s a first hand report on the kalaloch dig in mid February. Me & my son both dug Saturday & Sunday getting our limits both days & he added a 3rd limit on Monday but I couldn’t make it. I never saw anybody else limit & most had 0-8 clams. Clams were mostly 3 3/4” to 4 1/4”. I never dug a single clam that was close to an avg clam on the southern beaches on a good day.

There was way too much surf even tho there were really good minus tides which are a must at kalaloch. We are shovel guys & pounded hard to find shows in which many disappeared quick or were questionable at all. This is why I believe we were a rare bird leaving with limits. 90% of people were packing guns & unless you had something to pound with, good luck. I really see no reason to open kalaloch in its current state. It’s nice to drive 35 miles & dig but I think I’ll make the trek to Moclips if I’m hungry for razors going forward.

[j_h_nimrod]

Here’s a first hand report on the kalaloch dig in mid February. Me & my son both dug Saturday & Sunday getting our limits both days & he added a 3rd limit on Monday but I couldn’t make it. I never saw anybody else limit & most had 0-8 clams. Clams were mostly 3 3/4” to 4 1/4”. I never dug a single clam that was close to an avg clam on the southern beaches on a good day.

There was way too much surf even tho there were really good minus tides which are a must at kalaloch. We are shovel guys & pounded hard to find shows in which many disappeared quick or were questionable at all. This is why I believe we were a rare bird leaving with limits. 90% of people were packing guns & unless you had something to pound with, good luck. I really see no reason to open kalaloch in its current state. It’s nice to drive 35 miles & dig but I think I’ll make the trek to Moclips if I’m hungry for razors going forward.

I will agree!  You did much better than anybody else I saw digging. We started a solid 2 hours before the low at the north campground. After searching n watching for 30 minutes I decided to just scout and headed to the far north end of the beach. I ran into the game cops and talked with them for a few minutes, they had checked a guy with 5 on the north end of the beach I said that was the max they saw (Saturday).  If I had hunted hard without the kids I could have likely limited, but size was small and it was too hard to make it worthwhile when I still have plenty in the freezer.