Don't know if anyone is interested in Puget Sound clamming. Tried it on Hope Island today with ok results. Got a few geoducks and some steamers (littlenecks) and one horse clam.

Been years sine I dug steamers and don't remember the back aches I got today from working that rake. I thought there would be more at the mid tide level but perhaps I dug in the wrong spot. I used to be a park ranger at Ford Ward State park in the early 80's and seem to remember them being really shallow.

Does anyone know what I was doing wrong? Sorry, no pictures. Just bought a new digital but the wife had it today.

Steamers are found at 4-6". If you don't find any at that depth, move and try again.

Were you looking for steamers or butter clams? You prob know, butters are deeper than littlenecks.

Somtimes, on the real low tide, I find myself going down too low on the beach in hopes of the motha load. When I move up some to the good gravel sand mix, I find clams. Not sure, but seems like I find them on areas that are a bit raised, or where the tide naturally acumulates sand and gravel, and maybe food.

Suppose every beach is different, so...

Good luck, I'm going to run down and get some Saturday! nice afternoon minus tide!

Dude, you were out at the low tide and you still couldn't get what you were hoping for? Were they not squirting into the air? Steamer shows aren't always apparent, especially if the area you are in has a mix of shells, sand, mud, gravel. I would say that best success is digging in areas where the beach is gravelly... same place you'd fish for cutthroat. They are shallow so if you find yourself digging past two shovel blade lengths, you're probably too deep.

Another tip: always pay attention to the sea gulls... if one starts sticking his nose in the ground, keep tabs on him... when he gets a clam, watch the bird wrestle the clam out of the beach and then see the gull fly away to higher ground and drop the clam on the rocks in an attempt to crack the clam open. Then it's your duty to liberate that clam!!! :p

On a side note, got to watch a sea gull win a tug of war with a horse clam today. A while later I checked back on the clam and the sea gull had cleaned out all the meat

I actually thought I'd read the regs wrong at first. Had the whole place to myself and my son...My oldest was trying to give me a heart attack by taking his friends out on the boat while we were digging. Only dug for about an hour and a half. I did get enough for a good pot of chowder.

I'm going to try the other side of the Island on sunday. Maybe I'll see someone from the board there.

One thing you can say about it, it wasn't nearly as boring as springer fishing!! lol

Oh yeah, thanks for the tips!!!