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Sand Lake is one of the gems of the Three Capes Scenic Loop. The natural wonder of the tidal basin is its most outstanding attribute. The fishing and crabbing is consistent because rainfall has little effect on the salinity of the water because the basin does not have a large continuous source of freshwater. The presence of perch, flounder and crabs in Sand Lake is governed by the tides. The bar at Sand Lake is too dangerous to attempt to cross. Access is gained to Sand Lake by turning west onto the Whelan Park Road at actual highway mile 8.4 on Sand Lake Road. The county park is a full service park. It is a wonderful place for a family vacation. The north spit of Sand Lake is threatened by erosion as a large portion of the north spit has recently washed into the sea. Motor vehicles are allowed in most areas of the area beaches from Nestucca Bay to Sand Lake. Check with local State Park officials for areas of the beach open to motor vehicles and seasonal closures. Low and high salt marshes are the most prominent tidal areas in and Lake. They are the first areas to become exposed on an outgoing tide and the last to be covered by the incoming tide. The high and low salt marshes in this publication are shown as extended shoreline or as islands. Much of the tidal area extending from the Shore of Sand Lake is salt marsh. South of Sand Lake the flat sand beach at Tierra Del Mar makes me wonder where are the razor clams that should be there. One of my cardiologist grew up at Tierra Del Mar and said her dad dug razor clams from the beach. One of my dentist live at Pacific City and has spent some time looking for razor clams on the beach at Tierra Del mar. If the clams are there, he could not find them. Bill Redtail surfperch, pileperch, walleye surfperch, silver surfperch and striped seaperch enter the tidal basin in small numbers throughout the year. They enter the tidal basin with the tide feeding heavily on intertidal animals. Fishing is usually fair depending on the tide, time of year and the weather conditions. The best fishing for perch and all species occurs from May through October during the incoming tide in the deepwater channels adjacent to the tidal flats in the lower part of the tidal basin south and west of Whalen Island. Starry Flounder fishing at onetime was the dominate fishery in Sand Lake. Today the fishing ranges from poor for most of the year to fair at best in the spring. Chinook salmon stray into Sand Lake in small numbers and several are caught in the tidal basin each year. Cutthroat trout return to Sand Creek from late July into September but the greatest numbers return in August. Fish in Sand Lake during the incoming tide trolling Doc Shelton spinners rigged with night crawlers. Coho salmon are occasionally are caught in Sand Lake. Bank Fishing is on the north shore inside the entrance to the north bar and from the south shore of Whalen Island. Clam digging in Sand Lake is limited to purple varnish clams and a small population of cockles. The population of purple varnish clams in Sand Lake is the highest of any of Oregon's bays. The purple varnish clam beds are located along the North Channel. Crabbing ranges from fair to good for most of the year inside the entrance to the tidal basin south and to the west of Whalen Island. Historically the most productive crabbing occurs from May through September with the most productivity occurring during May and August but the harvest data is probably incomplete. The best crabbing occurs in late September, October and into November in reverse order. By November the majority of the male crabs have mostly filled out. The crabbing is consistent because rainfall has little effect on the salinity of the water because the basin does not have a large continuous source of freshwater. The SandLakeboat launch is located at the Whalen County Park on the south shore. The Sandlake Recreation Area on the north shore is popular and busy with off-highway vehicles especially on weekends. There are 3 developed campgrounds: Sandbeach (101 sites), East Dunes (51 sites), and West Winds (20 sites). Day use parking at North Winds. Current status for Crabbing, Clam Digging and Fishing:
The Sand Lake County Park at Whalen Island is where the crabbers, clam diggers and fishermen camp. The county park at Whelan Island is closed for camping from December 1st to May 1st but is open on the honor payment system in the open area next the boat launch. Warnning! The boat launch parking area floods at high tides. For the latest information call the Camp Host at 503 965 6085. The campground is scheduled to close on 12/01.
Sand Lake Crabbing ranges from fair to good for most of the year inside the entrance to the tidal basin south and to the west of Whalen Island. Crabs are taken by crabbers from the bridge to Whalen Island on the incoming tide. The crabbing is consistent because rainfall has little effect on the salinity of the water because the basin does not have a large continuous source of freshwater. Sand Lake clam digging is limited to purple varnish clams and a small population of cockles. Raking for cockles in the cockle beds located in the south channel has declined, but the purple varnish clams in the tidal flats associated with the north channel are abundant. We suggest raking cockles at Netarts Bay rather than Sand Lake. Internet Links of Interest for Sand Lake We use the time and tide for Nestucca Bay because there no location listed for the Sand Lake Tidal Basin. Click on 2012 to view the NOAA tidal projections for your area of interest. Scroll down the desired month. Click HERE for the 10 day weather forecast for Pacific City. Share your crabbing, clam digging and fishing adventures with us by emailing them to clamdigginginfo@yahoo.com. Return to Clam Watch. |
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