Clam digging on the Kenai when staying at Alaska Discount Vacations

At Alaska Discount Vacations we offer shovels, clam guns and buckets for our guests for a fun no cost activity

Clam digging is a perfect activity for family groups and is one of Alaska's most popular outdoor activities. People of all ages enjoy digging for clams. It is relatively inexpensive as well. All that is needed is a 5 gallon bucket for each person, a clam shovel or a Clam Gun also called a clam tube, and waders of some sort, since the volcanic sand can get a muddy consistency.

     Sudden changes in weather can occur even in the summer. Rain, cold winds off the bay all can turn clam digging into cold wet chore. Make sure that you are prepared for changes in the weather by carrying rain gear and warm clothes.  Carry a plastic bag with you to put waders and boots in after your dig.

Clamming on the Kenai is mostly for Razor clams, a thinly shelled clam that if you dig wrong you will find out why it is called a Razor Clam. Nicks and cuts are the norm when handling clam shells that are broken. Also available are Red Clams though they are not large in numbers and there is also no limit to the number of Red Clams you can take, at this writing. (Always check regulations as articles on the net can be old and out of date..This article is being written in November of 2008 for future reference)
     The best areas for clamming are between the Kasilof River on the North and the Anchor river to the south. This is approximately a 50 mile area. It is often divided in the literature about clamming into North and South Beach Areas. The North Beaches are near Coho, Clam Gulch, Oil Pad Access and the Southern beach areas are comprised of the beaches around Ninilchik, Deep Creek, Happy Valley and Whiskey Gulch.
      Clam Gulch is a very popular area, but due to lots of clam diggers and a poor hatch a few years back the quality and size of clams at Clam Gulch has suffered. The good news is that Alaska Wildlife says that there are plenty of small clams which means that in another year or 2 the clamming at Clam Gulch will be much better and that recent spawns have been good. Suitable clam tides are the ones showing a minus tide. This means that more of the beach is open for clamming and that clams that are exposed are relatively untouched by predators or other clammers on tides that are shallower.
     Razor Clam digging is legal year round, but the best times for "Table Quality"  of the razor clam is generally considered best in early summer, just prior to the July - August Spawn.Tides of -2.0  or lower are suggested for the best results.  Tides must be progressively lower on the southern beaches due to the steeper grade.  Tides should be -3.0 or lower in the Ninilchik and Deep Creek areas with -4.0 feet or lower recommended for Whiskey Gulch.
Digging is best an hour before or two hours after low tide.
     The Southern Beaches are limited to access by high bluffs,  and they have a steeper grade than do the Northern Beaches. This limits the time available to a digger.
     The best razor clam digging  at Deep Creek starts about a mile south of where the creek joins the bay. There is public parking, here and in the Ninilchik area as well. A 4 Wheel drive vehicle is almost a must for this activity in some areas. The beaches are accessible but can become quite hard to navigate without the extra drive. Walking is an option in most places but others are a long mile or 2 walk and trust me after a day of digging clams, that mile or so walk seems a LOT longer

Remove sand by lifting the shovel upward and forward. Repeat this 2 to 3 times

Succeeding scoops of sand expose the clam enough to reach down with your hand and grasp its shell. Razor clams move rapidly downward but not horizontally.

Cleaning Razor Clams

Soaking your clams in a bucket of clean sea water for a few hours will allow the clam to purge most or all of the sand present within its neck and gills. The bucket should be left undisturbed during this period as agitation will keep the clam withdrawn into its shell. The clam body may be removed from the shell by running a knife blade along the inner shell surface and cutting the muscle connecting body to shell. The subsequent cleaning can be accomplished with a sharp knife and/or scissors is to remove the gills and digestive tract.Basically remove the dark parts of the clam. The tip of the neck should also be removed and both canals of the neck should be opened to facilitate the removal of sand. Scissors with pointed blades work well in cleaning razor clams.

Cooking Razor Clams
Most diggers prefer to fry razor clams, although razors make excellent chowder stock. The butterflied necks can be cut in strips, dipped in a cornmeal/flour mix and deep-fried for excellent clam strips. To fry the clam they should be breaded with flour or cracker meal and cooked in an extremely hot skillet or deep fryer. For tender, succulent clams, cooking time should be limited to one to two minutes. Additional cooking time will cause a loss of flavor and the clams tend to become tough and leathery.