Lawson's clamming

I'm heading up to Lawson's today for a little clamming. Low tide is just before 4 at a -0.8'. Can anyone with experience up there say when the clam beds will start to show?

Cheers,
Brad

The beds will be showing 1-2 hours before the low tide.  A couple of us will be out there today.  I'll be in a yellow AI, and a friend of mine has a yellow Outfitter.  Good Luck!

Thanks for the info Fiver! Normally I'm on a yellow Revo 13, but I'm taking my wife out today so we'll be on a big blue Necky tandem.

Cheers,
Brad

I'm heading up to Lawson's today for a little clamming. Low tide is just before 4 at a -0.8'. Can anyone with experience up there say when the clam beds will start to show?

Cheers,
Brad

Geet dem clams!  I hope you find em’.  I'm re-inspired to go pump some shrimp.  No intel on clamming.  I’m sure you’ll learn a ton.

Them low-tide events usually get plenty of peeps raring to go with their hodgepodge of boats and gear. If I recall, it's a big parking lot w/ plenty of space but can get crowded with the lining up to get in.  There used to be a faucet where one could attach a hose to rinse off muddy gears. Super fun stuff. Be safe!

.5 is when the tide is usually low enough.

The island is higher on the far side so you can get a head start if you go to that end first. 

Drop some crab traps on the way out too.

Not to be a buzzkill, but check biotoxin hotline.......1 800-553-4133

Not a buzzkill - checking the hotline is always good advice and it was clear. Got a couple, but need to upgrade our gear. Couldn't reach a couple that were deeper than the 6.5 gallon bucket that I'd cut the bottom out of, but it was a win anyway. My wife loved it and I had to almost push her away from digging on one so that I could reach it with my longer arm to pull it out. She was a bloodhound on the scent after reaching in and feeling the siphon - she was digging like crazy

Cheers,
Brad

Way to get out there, bonus your wife had fun! Pretty small window to play in the mud with Lawson's kicking everyone out by 5pm though.

Agreed on the limited window -- didn't find that out until after I paid the $20 parking fee (yesterday was $10). I know they're hurting so I won't hate on them, but seems like they could be a little more lenient like get off the water by dark and then pack up and leave. Oh well, as I said my better half had a blast so that's worth it. Chowder is on the stove as we speak Yum

Cheers,
Brad

Did you guys see people using a modified bilge pump attached to a hose that were used to pump water into the clam hole?  I first saw it on youtube and then saw a bunch of people using them at HMB today when I took my kid to play in the mud. 

Here's an example, at the 40 second mark.

Did you guys see people using a modified bilge pump attached to a hose that were used to pump water into the clam hole?  I first saw it on youtube and then saw a bunch of people using them at HMB today when I took my kid to play in the mud. 

Here's an example, at the 40 second mark.

Are those commercially available or are there DIY plans somewhere? 

Not to be a buzzkill, but check biotoxin hotline.......1 800-553-4133

Yeah I was gonna say the something about this. I’ve been chomping at the bit for clamming for a month or two but the biotoxin hotline says Sonoma county isn’t safe for bivalves. (Called this morning). there were 50+ people in Bodega bay today clamming. Are these people all oblivious or am I missing something?!

My understanding is that horsenecks are ok regardless as long as you discard the innards. Is this what everyone’s doing?

Tons had the pump and hose setup and they were the most successful- one pumps and the other mans the wand and grabbing the clam. They were all homemade rigs but very effective. Your basically just pumping water to loosen up the sand around the clam - no digging required.

Did you guys see people using a modified bilge pump attached to a hose that were used to pump water into the clam hole?  I first saw it on youtube and then saw a bunch of people using them at HMB today when I took my kid to play in the mud. 

Here's an example, at the 40 second mark.

Are those commercially available or are there DIY plans somewhere?

In the comments of some videos it looks like these are all DIY.  A couple guys were offering some for sale between $100-200/ea which is crazy. 

A few years ago I was looking at making a powered one using a bilge pump but abaondoned the idea after the family wasn't as interested in clamming and the days and times of the low tides made our trips very infrequent.  With my youngest now showing interest I will look around for plans.  Will share if I find any.