Can't get enough clamming tips and techniques? What can I say? I can't GIVE you enough. ;) Here is a potpourri of tidbits to help you finish that perfect day of clam hunting on a high note. Yes. You too can be a superman of the sand dwellers!

Clamming Tips & Techniques

When you're going after softshell clams, you want to dig from the side. When you get about 2 feet down, carve the mud away in the direction of the clam.

If you choose to go after gapers, bring a bucket (roughly 5-gallon) with it's bottom removed, along with a foot-long stick the width of a soda straw. When you spot the clam's neck sticking out of the sand, quickly poke the stick into the siphon and place your bucket around him. Dig away the mud until you've got the shell.

As for searching for razor clams, you want to be walking right smack-dab in the surf, just below the tide line. Remember what a show is? That's where a clam has withdrawn it's neck or started to dig, leaving a hole or dimple in the sand. They're fairly easy to spot if you're looking closely.

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There are 3 types of shows:

Here's a handy-dandy clamming tip for getting those little buggers to reveal themselves. The simplest way to bring about a "clam show" is to tap the sand in a 2-foot arc with your shovel's handle or you can use your feet. When you see it, insert your shovel about 4 inches on the ocean side of the razor clam, which will be his first choice direction to escape. Slightly pry the handle back toward your body, which will trap the little sucker. You can use a clam gun for hunting down razors as well. You may actually choose to use the gun if you're not too experienced with the shovel yet. It takes some practice not to crush the shell. You definitely do not want a crushed clam to count toward your daily limit.

Now, bay clams (also known as littleneck, cockles and butters) are found 1 to 6 inches below the surface of gravely sand. You will want to use a rack to get at them. The finest populations of bay clams can be found in Yaquina, Tillamook, Coos and Netarts bays.

Clamming Tip: Shucking

After the day's catch is done and you're preparing to shuck your clams, wear at least one slightly heavy glove on the hand that you're holding the clam with. That clamming tip will keep you from accidentally cutting your hand up. You'll want to slip the point of your knife about half an inch into it, near it's hinge. Make sure the sharp edge is pointed away from you. Losing a digit isn't any fun. Angle the blade toward the top of the shell so that will cut between the shell and the abductor muscle. That is the muscle that holds the clam closed. Work the knife around it's shell to the opposite side of the clam's hinge. Cut through the muscle and repeat the same on the other side.

Clamming Tips: Preparation

In order to get the clam ready to chow down on, cut away any dark meat you may find on the stomach. Locate both siphons. When you do, insert your knife into the lower one and then cut upwards through both of them at once. Strip away the outer layer of skin from it's neck. Rinse really well so that you do not end up with any sand or grit in it. Ew, I hate that! Once you have your batch all ready for cooking, find a tasty clam recipe and you're good to go. Enjoy!
 

Photos by George Vetter/Cannon-Beach Net unless otherwise noted

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