I have noticed an alarming trend on our razor clam beaches over the last 10 years. Yes, I am talking about the explosion of clam gun use. It reminds me of what has happened to our ski slopes with the snowboards.

It used to be that one would only see about 10% of the clammers using guns. Now the numbers have reversed. Many of these guns are expensive, high-tech models. Has everyone lost their minds?

What happened to the hands-on, one-on-one, man-against-clam battles that provide the adrenelin rush of victory? I LIKE playing tug-o-war with my prey! So what if you take the occasional wave over your wader's top while you're reached in to your armpit?

(besides, I tried on of them guns and about broke my back)

I think we talked about this before. When I was a kid the clam shovel was called a clam gun.
Somehow these no brainer stovepipes stole the name.

It is more fun with a shovel, which we always called a gun back in the day. The tubes were invented in the 50s, called the Sandpiper, and they do work well for novices. But used properly the shovel is cleaner and doesn't bust up the shells often.

Gun-only for me anymore. Been digging them since I was old enough to tag behind Mom & Dad and dig upwards of 1000 a year nowadays.

SB ... 60 clams pp a day for us on our digs and I'll bet I only bust 1 out of the whole lot ... and that is usually only a cracked shell. When you learn how they lay on a specific beach (it's always different), guns are far simpler

And they are so much better when you have a bad back!

Cowlitzfisherman

I thought a shovel was more appropriate for all clams except razors...Razors are single clams under the show hole while most other clams are in clusters where a gun would be useless. Sounds like some of the new guns are pretty nice with bigger diameters and thin walls..nice and light....

Bob ..tell some stories about the razors at Clam Gulch in Alaska....I never got to participate but the clams up there seemed huge and plentiful....no tools necessary I hear.

Count me in the shovel camp! Pretty hard to "play them" with a clam gun. I'm with SlabQuest... the battle is half the fun.

Shovel for me too. I like gettin' down and dirty.