Pumping, digging and laughing at Tomales Bay

We all had a great day at Tomales today. We left Petaluma at a little after 10am and drove out to Lawsons. The sun was out and the hills are verdant green. When we turned to go down the hill to Dillons the air was just electric. The view from the top was outstanding and I thought" this is why I would never move from Sonoma County". After driving through the open range cows and motorhomes we arrived at the east end of the parking lot. We all started pumping some ghosties and a few of us had never done it before so it was a hoot for all. After about an hour and a half we went back to get the kayaks ready and pushed towards the sand bars slowly becoming exposed while the tide was running out. Findthatfish was first over to the clam beds and we all slowly arrived. Not in force mind you just diggin' the lazy sunny day.Everyone had limits or near for gaper clams. Agreat day on the water and in the mud. Stinky, stinky mud. To everyone I met today, thanks for coming over. I am blessed with new friends every time I get together with you guys. Craig

Very Kool....

I would never move from Sonoma County".

 Amen,  I miss it Badly   

 Did you get any pileworms???  and, I would keep what ever clam sauce you have to scent your bait...

 Good Luck....

Very Kool....

I would never move from Sonoma County".

 Amen,  I miss it Badly   

 Did you get any pileworms???  and, I would keep what ever clam sauce you have to scent your bait...

 Good Luck....

 Don , we scored some big pile worms. A plus(for Allen anyway) was a huge blood worm he carried around all day. I think he finally fell in love.

I think he finally fell in love.

I hope girlfriend doesn't read that!   

Great report, Craig.  I wish I was closer so I could come to cool hookups like that.  WTG, Guys.   

     A couple NCKA'ers turned into almost a dozen. The shrump'n turned into a meet and greet..waaay cool! After everyone had a share at pumping we all launched and paddled (one who looks a lot like Sailfish shoveled  after forgetting his paddle...check out the pic) over to one of the island for some clamming. Having never done this sort of clamming before I was treated to a flurry of info and it all paid out .....in one hole I got six good sized clams so I was off to easy limits.
     It was a great day on  and off the water as well.....

Ahh great day to be out after days, weeks of rain, wind and driving through the countryside made me feel alive again.  Although once I got on the water I realized that its been a while since I've been paddling and my muscles are reminding me now.  Of course it could have been from pumpin ghosties or digging clams.

Nice to meet folks that have been posting and it's like getting together with old friends...thanks NCKA.  Lots of friendly folks and hopefully they chime in because like everyone else, I'm terrible with names.  We did meet Odat from OAP fame.  He's a humble guy, let's give him some space OK?  He's learned his lesson and wants to keep posting.

It was the first time for me to pump shrimp and dig for clams.  The ghosties were easy given the expert training and equipment from Craig and Allen.  The clamming was tough for me because I only found little clams initially and expected the monsters posted on the web.  Since it was such a nice day everyone and their families were out and the place looked like someone carpet bombed the mud flats.  It wasn't until I waded through a waist deep lagoon (waders rock) to get to the "other side" that I got into virgin clam territory.  That's me way in the back behind Phil (Northern Boy) in the third picture.  Once I got there and started digging there were so many siphons going off I felt like I was at a water park.  Bagged my limit and thanks guys for watching my yak while I was off in the back forty.

The paddle back wasn't too bad.  I expected to fight the wind and the tide but there was none.  Good times!

Gary

We had a great day  , I am absolutely knackered. Thanks so much Ravensblack for sorting all this out (and getting the parking; we owe you one man). Thanks also to Paul for loaning us the clam cannon, that made life a lot easier. Thanks O2B for the hobie sticker, no-one going to nick my car now it's been cursed.

Good luck to all trying to tempt sturgeon with those ghosties. Just remember, the ones you catch fish with, they're the ones pumped by me.

Just an FYI for fellow clam virgins, I found a picture essay on cleaning the gapers and posted it here;

 http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,16783.new.html#new

It's a beautiful day at Lawson's Landing.  I had a good workout from pumping the shrimps and digging for Gaper clamps.  I always believe a picture worths a thousand words, so here is my novel:

Arrived at Lawson's Landing


Searching for Shrimps' holes


Learning pump technique from the pro's


Look at the shrimps and a worm on steroid

Time to head over to the island


Craig got a head start


Phil & Lisa


Allen and his clams

Group picture


We found a little Spider crab


Time to head back


Craig was so relax after a fun day

Thanks for the report and pictures Craig. Looks like hard work but lots of fun. Goodluck
tomorrow at the Montezuma. It would be sweet to catch a sturgeon with one of those
freshly pumped ghostshrimp.

Jedmo

the weather was great...no wind, no clouds.  a perfect day for clamming.  great to see phil, allen, craig and the rest of the gang.  it was my first time seeing people pumping shrimps...very interesting and fun to watch.  i have to get me one of those pumps.  digging for clams was a hard work but too much fun,,,we have to go back there together again.  i hope to see you all soon.

A few more pictures:

Standing tall


Down to the mud


Team work

Looks like an awsome day at the Bay

Man, that looks like blast.  What do you do just dig down and shove that big white thing into stop the sides from falling in?  What is that, a big piece of PVC drainpipe?