I started plowing driveways this morning till it was light enough to go clammin,couldn't wait to get there!When I finally made it to the flats it was a white out sometimes I could see a guy on the other side of the flats & then I couldn't.I started to ask myself,what in the hell I am doing out here in a snow storm?I realized it's what I love to do,so many people don't have that option,if they want clams either to eat or for bait they have to go to the bait shop or the store,I am a lucky guy & I am thankful,it is hard work but I wouldn't change a thing.My dad had me on the south river in Marshfield when I was just a baby,my family dug clams back then commercially,I was one of a handful that had a commercial license at my age,I think I was around 8 years old & diggin a bushel a tide,that was the limit then.Back in 1977 my dad & I was diggin clams down at the sunshine bar here in Maine,the clams were 3 layers deep & wicked sharp,cut you like a knife & I was to stupid to wear gloves back then.We were diggin along & this guy shows up with all kinds of cameras & starts to take our pictures,I figured just some strap hangah gettin some pics for the family album from their trip to Maine but I was wrong,turns out he worked for National Geographic & they were doing a story about Maine.between the mornin tide & the evenin tide dad & I dug sixteen bushel of clams & when we had finished diggin in the mornin we had to lug the clams to the truck,a good 100 yd lug,each roller held 30 lbs. & when you got into soft bottom you knew it.The camera guy thought he would like to help us lug the clams to the truck,he made it about 30 yds & he was done,without thinkin I told him that he should probably stick to luggin cameras!Eventually we got a copy of the magazine every once in a while I take it out,good memories,I guess that's how I can go out in a snow storm & have a smile on my face.
No snow down here but will be taking my boy tomorrow to the flats. Low tide at 10:30 AM. Just going for oysters and hard clams for dinner time. Always good memories as it has been past down for four generations on the same grounds. Spring is one day closer.
Great story palawan, Small world it is. I have probably thrown a few wakes your way as i fished both the North and South back then. Use to leave from Marys. Now were both up here !!!!
I love fishing in Maine but I have so many good memories as a kid fishing in the North & South river,dad & I would dig clams on a mornin tide then when we got the boat back in the water we would hand line for flounders by the old sub chaser or off of Branch creek.I finally went down there about 4 years ago when my cousin bought a small run about,he didn't know his way down the river so I took him I couldn't believe the difference,the sub chaser is almost completed covered up with sand & you can't even get thru there anymore you have to go out around the Scituate flats to get to Branch on a low tide.When I was a kid there used to be a bouy just outside the mouth & we would catch all kinds of fish,haddock,cod,pollock great fun & I do miss it,when I get the new boat I will venture down that way as well as some of the banks here in Maine that I have had the privilage of fishing on.I went clammin this mornin it was 15 degrees when we left,I took a friend that goes with me most the time,he wanted to quit but I kept tellin him to keep diggin,make believe your in Florida & it's 80 degrees out but he wasn't buying it but I kept on him & before he knew it the roller was full.It's funny to me now because that is what my dad used to do to me when I was a kid,keep diggin & that's what I do when I feel like I want to give up I hear him telling me to keep diggin & I do till the roller is full & when I get to the truck I usually have a good laugh,my friend thinks I am just nuts but someday when his son goes with him clammin he will know & another generation will hear those famous words KEEP DIGGIN!
Just to make myself feel better about clammin today I called my cousin in Scituate to see how the weather was in his part of the world,sunny & warm was the reply,just what I wanted to hear actually made my day.I had a hot spot & really wanted to get a full tide in,wishful thinkin!I got to the clam flats late because I helped a friend with his boat,this should have told me somethin but you know how that goes when you get into dig mode.The wind was out of the SW about 20kts. with some higher gust & snow,lots & lots of snow.I tried diggin back to but my shirt kept pullin out & my back got wet so I would stop & re- tuck & try it head on for a while,all I got out of that was a washed face!A normal person probably would have quit & gone home but I had a hot spot & I wasn't leavin till I was ready & my roller was full,the dad thing kickin in,old habit what can I say.Just before I got done I walked over to another section of the flats,can't help myself done it since I was a kid,it's like lookin for treasure the clam holes are the map & I found the mother load!I wish I hadn't tried it because I am having trouble sleepin tonight,2 to 3 handfulls every flip & that is all I see when I close my eyes,that's why I am up & can't wait for tomorrow,a sad thing it is suppose to be around 9 degrees in the mornin,I don't care I am going,for people that have dug for a living you know what I am talking about,my wife says I'm nuts she's usually right but I LOVE MY JOB!I'm leavin for Scituate Sat mornin & I can see my cousin now with the melted butter runnin down his chin,yup it's gonna be worth diggin in the mornin!
I got up around 5:30 this mornin convinced I was going clammin,it was down to 5 degrees & blowing just about 30,my clam buddy pretty much told me what I could do with the clams,you'll have to use your imagination on that but needless to say he wasn't going clammin!I thought about an early start for Scituate but them damn clams are callin my name so I will get tonights tide then I'll hit the trail.Cabin fever at its worse the only good thing I can say we are 1 day closer to Spring,that groundhog better get it right!
I love the story! I thought i was the only one in the world that had those dreams! Five and six little necks on every swing. That view is burned into my brain. I work on Long Island and we call it hacking down here. With 4 to 6 foot tides there isn't a lot of time unless you get a day like today! NW 25-30 we call that a blow out tide with a full moon coming on!!! Lots of places went dry today that are usually covered. But make sure you don't let those beauties freeze. We keep them in the water til the boat ride home, then cover them with an old blanket. I'm sure you'll get another good tide tomorrow Cap catch'em up!
I used to dig during the summer when I was a kid. It was great, usually had a pocket full of cash before most of my freinds even got out of bed. Ive only dug once during the winter...it sucked, I had no one to say keep diggin, you guys are animals!
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