Clammin in a snow storm

[oldmud]

What's all this talk about MUD ???? Palawan, PM me

[Kamo Gari]

Attaboy', getting after it in interesting weather. My buddy is a commercial clammer on the MA NS, and we poke fun at each other when we see one another on the marsh in fierce winter weather when I'm duck hunting and he's digging. Each thinks the other's nuts. No winter shots, but here are a few from the warm months. I have a 5 gallon bucketful in the 'fridge. Think I'll go steam some up.

[Kamo Gari]

...the only thing I had of any use was my clam hoe,I never leave home without one,my wife thinks I have issues but at least I don't wear my hip boots when we go out.

Dat's cool, having your girlfriend along to help when you get stuck and whatnot. I'd follow suit, but I'm too afraid my wife would catch on...

[Palawanbound]

NICE!instead of dreamin about sugar plums I'll be dreamin of those steamed clams in melted butter,I can feel the butter runnin down my chin,THANKS!I'll have to put some pics I have of us clammin here in Maine,I love my job,it is hard work but to me it is like being on a treasure hunt & at the end of the tide someone actually pays me for my loot,got to love it,KEEP DIGGIN!

[Kamo Gari]

NICE!instead of dreamin about sugar plums I'll be dreamin of those steamed clams in melted butter,I can feel the butter runnin down my chin,THANKS!I'll have to put some pics I have of us clammin here in Maine,I love my job,it is hard work but to me it is like being on a treasure hunt & at the end of the tide someone actually pays me for my loot,got to love it,KEEP DIGGIN!

You bet. I love mine with butter but my wife has gotten me hooked on using rice vinegar too. Try it, it's excellent. Funny that you mention treasure hunt. My buddy has found some *amazing* things over the years, including gold hidden in an old beam of a ship, as well as a 17th century flintlock pistol. If but those things could speak!

[blacktide]

Some pics I have

[Kamo Gari]

Very cool. Can you tell me more about the bullrake, please? Never used one and don't know exactly how it works, other than what I've gleaned by watching guys do it briefly--and it looks like fun, but damned hard on the back and shoulders! First, they're used for hardshells, yes? Also, quahogs, cherrystones and littlenecks are all the same clam but names denote sizes (large to small above), if I'm not mistaken. Sandy bottom tool? Can you adjust the length of the rake handle? General depth from what I've seen is about 4-8 feet or so... Anyway, thanks for the pics and any info appreciated. Just cur-i-ass.

[blacktide]

Very cool. Can you tell me more about the bullrake, please? Never used one and don't know exactly how it works, other than what I've gleaned by watching guys do it briefly--and it looks like fun, but damned hard on the back and shoulders! First, they're used for hardshells, yes? Also, quahogs, cherrystones and littlenecks are all the same clam but names denote sizes (large to small above), if I'm not mistaken. Sandy bottom tool? Can you adjust the length of the rake handle? General depth from what I've seen is about 4-8 feet or so... Anyway, thanks for the pics and any info appreciated. Just cur-i-ass.

The rake is a 26 tooth rhode Island style. I can use it from 3 to 50 feet of water. The handle is aluminum pipe that comes in 12 ft sections that telescope into each other. That pic is in about 6 feet of water. The catch is hard clams (Mercineria mercineria ) the sizes are little neck, top neck , Cherry, chowder. I work this particular rake in muddy bottom due to the longer teeth on the rake, about 3 1/2 inches long. I don't work too much sandy bottom with the rake cause obviously it harder to do! We have plenty of muddy areas to rake but no too many clams these days.

[Kamo Gari]

Had no idea you could haul so deep. Looks like a young man's game to me.

Thanks for the info.

[Tyke]

hey blacktide, where in LI do you clam....in one of those pics it looks like the LOCO stacks in the background???