Originally published November 11, 2009 at 6:27 PM | Page modified November 11, 2009 at 8:31 PM

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Razor clam digs look like good bet this weekend

Dan Ayres, the head state Fish and Wildlife coastal shellfish manager, warns diggers to check weather and surf forecasts before heading out

By Mark Yuasa

Seattle Times staff reporter

Reel Time Northwest

Seattle native and lifelong angler Mark Yuasa blogs on fishing in the Pacific Northwest.

Despite the lousy weather, there are some fishing options to be had, and many are making plans to head to the coastal beaches for another series of razor clam digs.

Twin Harbors will be open for digging Saturday-Tuesday, while Long Beach, Copalis and Mocrocks are open Saturday-Monday. Kalaloch Beach will be open for digging on Monday. Digging is allowed between noon and midnight.

Dan Ayres, the head state Fish and Wildlife coastal shellfish manager, warns diggers to check weather and surf forecasts before heading out.

"I was pleased that people paid attention to the surf warnings during the last opener [Nov. 4-7]," Ayres said. "Overall the turnout was about 15 percent of what we would have expected had the weather been more acceptable."

A total of more than 3,000 diggers turned out, and most hit the beaches on Nov. 4, the first night of digging, and averaged 14 clams per person. The first 15 clams dug regardless of size or condition is a daily limit.

By Nov. 5, weather conditions deteriorated with 18-foot plus swells, but 160 diggers at Grayland averaged 10 clams per person.

"By the night [of Nov. 6] the 30-foot surf was amazing, and I have lived my whole life on the coast and had never seen anything like that," Ayres said. "Everybody seemed to heed the warnings and stayed home, and it was a big goose egg as far as anyone coming out."

The weather improved on Nov. 7, and 600 diggers turned out at Long Beach and 400 more at Twin Harbors, averaging 10 clams per person.

Ayres said the good news to all the bad weather last week was that enough clams remain in the quota to offer more digs later on.

Low tides: Saturday, minus-0.3 feet at 4:34 p.m.; Sunday, -0.7 at 5:21 p.m.; Monday, -0.9 at 6:05 p.m.; and Tuesday, -0.8 at 6:47 p.m.

The best time to dig is an hour or two before low tide.

Quick bites

• Better chum fishing in estuaries off Johns Creek in Oakland Bay, Chico Creek, Kennedy Creek in Totten Inlet (66 bank anglers last Sunday caught 67 chum), Hoodsport Hatchery (81 bank anglers last Sunday caught 67 chum), North Bay near Allyn, Perry Creek in Eld Inlet, McLane Creek and Eagle Creek south of Potlatch State Park.

• Squid jigging is inconsistent at Des Moines and Edmonds piers, and Pier 86 in Seattle.

• The crab fishery is good in central and most of northern Puget Sound; both are open daily through Jan. 2. Also open are Neah Bay, Sekiu and South Sound.


Fishing report
Location	Comment
Statewide rivers	"Some are still chasing coho in the Snohomish up at the Wallace [River] and the Cascade," said Mike Chamberlain at Ted's Sports Center in Lynnwood. "Some fair reports of chum in the Skagit just below the mouth of the Sauk and as high up as Swift Creek near Rockport." Fair in the Skykomish at Reiter Ponds for summer steelhead. Fair for steelhead in the Methow, Clearwater and Okanogan, but slower in the Wenatchee. Buckets of rain came down on the northern coast, and while there are good numbers of coho and a few chinook it might be some time before you can fish the Calawah, Bogachiel, Hoh and Sol Duc. Other coastal rivers bent out of shape are Humptulips, Satsop, Wynoochee, Queets, Salmon and Quinault.
Biting: Yes Rating:
Marine salmon	"We've been pretty stoked about the fishing off Possession Bar," said Pete Sergeef, a state Fish and Wildlife test boat worker. During four days of fishing last week, Sergeef along with Toby Black caught 32 legal-sized fish [only five were wild fish], and so far this week they've caught 10 legals in two days in front of Edmonds using downriggers with a Brad's Lure, white glo hootchie with a green flasher or a pearl white plug. Other good reports have come from Point No Point, Port Townsend and Jefferson Head. The Camano Island area was fair at Elger Bay, Baby Island, Camano Head, Sandy Point and Langley. Central, south central [an 18-pound chinook caught this past week off Point Defiance], southern Puget Sound and Hood Canal are open.
Biting: Yes Rating:
Columbia River	Good in the Lower Klickitat for coho. Fair to good in the Cowlitz for coho, chinook, steelhead and cutthroat trout. Fair in the Kalama for coho and steelhead. Fair in the Lewis for coho. Good for coho at the mouth of the Klickitat in Bonneville Pool. Fair for sturgeon below Bonneville Dam.
Biting: Yes Rating:
Statewide lakes	Beaver Lake near Issaquah was recently planted with 3,000 trout averaging 3 pounds. Good for perch in Lake Washington; fish deep in 50-60 feet of water. Decent for trout in Swift Reservoir and Sprague Lake on Lincoln-Adams County line, and in Lake Roosevelt.
Biting: Yes Rating:
Salmon derbies	The Bayside Marine Fishing Derby was held last weekend in Everett, and 197 anglers weighed in 62 fish averaging 7.5 pounds. Results: 1, Rich Lopez, 15.3 pounds; 2, Darren Paul, 11.14; 3, Jim Collins, 11.01. Under stormy conditions, 57 anglers Nov. 7 weighed in nine blackmouth at the Jacobsen's Marine Grady-White Owner's Tournament. Results: 1, Don White of Hansville, 8 pounds, 12 ounces; 2, Doug Haldeman of Edmonds, 8-9; 3, John Laws of Edmonds, 8-3. The Tengu Blackmouth Derby in Elliott Bay last Sunday drew a big zero of fish for 33 anglers, although lots of small fish were released. The derby is every Sunday through Dec. 27 at Seacrest Boathouse. Details: 206-324-7600.
Biting: Yes Rating: