Simple Tides / Guides / Clamming Gear
Clamming Gear Guide: Rakes & Baskets
Clamming is the tide’s most democratic harvest — no boat, no fancy tackle, just a low tide and the right tools. This is the kit that fills the bucket when the flats open up.
The tide gives, the gear gathers
Everything in clamming revolves around the low tide: the lower the water, the more flat you can work. Our tide timing guide covers reading the table for maximum exposure; this page is the hardware — rakes, baskets, and boots chosen for mud, cold water, and long mornings.
The gear
Clam rake
The business end of clamming: a long-handled rake with a basket that sifts mud and sand while keeping the clams. Short-tined rakes for steamers in soft mud, long-tined for harder ground — match the rake to your flat.
Clam hod
The classic wooden-slat basket that drains water and sand while you work. A hod rides on your hip or floats beside you — either way it beats a bucket for a long tide, and wardens like seeing your catch measurable at a glance.
Knee boots
Cold mud, sharp shells, and long walks across the flat — knee boots are the minimum. Insulated rubber boots buy you warm feet on winter lows, and good tread keeps you upright on slick eelgrass.
Clam shovel
For razor clams and deep-digging species, nothing beats a dedicated clam shovel — narrow blade, long handle, built for fast deep holes before the clam escapes downward. The ‘clam gun’ tube is the alternative for sandy beaches.
Shellfish gauge
Keepers vs. shorts is measured in sixteenths of an inch, and wardens check. A simple ring or bar gauge lives in your pocket and settles every argument before it starts — undersized clams go straight back.
Waterproof gloves
Mud, cold water, and sharp shell edges punish bare hands. Neoprene or waterproof work gloves keep your grip and your skin through a full tide cycle — blisters end trips early.
Headlamp
The best low tides of the month often fall before dawn. A waterproof headlamp with a red mode lets you read the flat, find your rake marks, and keep night vision — hands-free for digging.
Mesh dive bag
For the walk back: a mesh bag drains, breathes, and keeps the catch cool in the shade. Separate bags for different species keep the warden — and your dinner — sorted.
Dig the low, respect the flat
Gear up, then check your local tide chart for the month’s biggest minus tides — that’s when the flats give up their best. Fill holes as you go, take only legals, and check your state’s shellfish closures and licenses before you dig.