Fishing Guide’s Manual: Buoy 10 Fishing Guide

Buoy 10 Salmon fishing is one of the most exciting experiences on the Columbia River. The fall Chinook and Coho fuel up on bait before entering the river. Warmer river water clashing with cool ocean water pushes the hammer down on their throttle. The result is some of the most hard-fighting salmon fishing you will ever experience. Getting the hardware, location selection, and trolling techniques right can move you from being a spectator to the middle of the game.

Hardware for Buoy 10 Salmon Fishing

Buoy 10 is almost entirely a game of trolling with flashers at different depths. Plenty of Fall Chinook and Coho meet their end on both triangle and 360 flashers. At its most basic, the setup includes a line-lock slider snapped to a cannonball weight. Behind the slider is a bead-chain swivel connected to a bumper, usually made of heavy monofilament followed by another swivel. A flasher is connected with another swivel behind it. The leader and lure follow.

Flashers for Buoy 10 Salmon Fishing

You can spend hours in a conversation about the merits of different flasher brands and colors. The job of a flasher is to attract fish to your setup. They do this in two ways. The first is with vibration through the water and the second is with light. Especially in deep water, vibrations travel farther than light. Some flashers also use LED lights and piezo electric diodes to create additional attraction.

360 flashers

By far the most popular choice, 360 flashers make big circular swings in the water which allows them to attract fish from a wider area. They are intended to mimic another salmon chasing and slashing after a bait fish. This can trigger a feeding instinct in nearby salmon, drawing them in and initiating a strike. The best flashers reflect lots of light in the right wavelengths and generate a lot of action at a wide range of trolling speeds. Fin heights, flasher shape, coatings and tape all affect these factors.

I have extensively used and caught fish with flashers made by Shortbus, Protroll, Brad’s, and a few other companies. In my experience, the most effective flashers for Buoy 10 fishing and salmon fishing in general are the ones made by X2 Fishing. I tested them independently and after seeing the results I was so impressed that I approached them for a sponsorship agreement.

Inline Flashers

Inline flashers have the same job as 360 flashers but rather than mimicking another salmon, they tend to mimic the flash and faster vibration of a school of bait. Like the name implies, they don’t move around in the water but rather spin around a central axis. While 360 flashers cover more water for suspended fish, inline flashers excel when fish are hugging the bottom. They are also the preferred option if you are using cut plug herring as a bait. The extra action of a 360 flasher can cause cut plug bait to warp or “blow out” unless it has a very strong cure. I’ve effectively used inline flashers from Yakima Bait, Shortbus, and Leo.

When I rig up an inline flasher for hugging the bottom, I always put my lead on a 10″ dropper rather than clipping it directly to the line lock. This allows the lead to bump the bottom without beating up your bait.

Bumper and leader lengths

Proclaiming “the perfect leader and bumper length combination” is a great way to start an argument in online forums. I vary my leader and bumper lengths depending on conditions and how I think the fish are acting.

The job of the bumper is to create distance from the point that the weight attaches. This allows the 360 flashers to move. For inline flashers a bumper prevents the dropper from your lead from tangling with your leader and interfering with the presentation. Shorter bumpers give a faster thump but a narrower radius on the flasher. I typically vary my lengths from 18″ to 24″. I do generally keep some extra long bumpers on hand for fishing in heavy current if I need to slow down my flashers.

For my bumpers, I crimp 125 pound tuna leader with 6-bead chain swivels on either end. I attach Hawaiian style snaps to reduce tangles and hook them to the rest of my setup. Some guides tie their bumpers on as they go, usually using heavy (50lb or higher) monofilament. Several companies sell pre-made bumpers, including some made from titanium wire which helps reduce drag and increase action for 360 flashers.

The leader does the same thing except between the bait and the flasher. Longer leaders will create a more stable pattern for the lure while shorter ones make it faster and more erratic. Shorter leaders help the fish locate the bait in darker or murkier water.

Lures and Bait for Buoy 10 Fishing

For 360 fishing, soft spinner rigs are a popular choice, especially in the upper parts of the estuary. I really like the UV paint quality from Oregon Tackle and High Class Tackle and use both of them on my Buoy 10 fishing charter trips. Closer to the ocean, trolling cut plug or whole herring and anchovies tends to be more effective. Stuffer baits like Brad’s Super Baits and Yakima Spin N Fish can work well in both areas. Stuffer baits are especially effective once the Coho start entering.

What Days and Spots do you recommend for Buoy 10 Salmon Fishing?

More than any other fishery, Buoy 10 is about timing and observing conditions. Tides and temperatures are everything, but time of season also matters. I spent years learning this before I thought I could call myself an expert Buoy 10 fishing guide.

Buoy 10 fishing locations for the early season – Summer and Fall Chinook

This is usually a time with smaller tides. On opening day the fish will be everywhere. As the stacked up fish get thinned out, the action moves downriver. A line from Hammond to Chinook channel entrance gives a good eastern boundary with most fish being closer to the ocean. If the bite is slow I often cross the bar and fish for Chinook and Coho in the Ocean.

The river will be full of a combination of Summer Chinook and Tule Chinook (usually more tan colored). The Tule’s are larger and fight harder but have a bit lower meat quality. Some are very far along in their pre-spawn phase but can be a blast to fight.

Buoy 10 fishing locations for Mid August- Fall Chinook, some Coho

In the mid season the fish distribute more. Bigger tides speed the fish upriver and out of the area. This means fewer fish in the estuary. The good news is that there are fewer Tules and more true upriver Fall Chinook. The heavy tides mean searching for Fall Chinook along the bottom during strong outgoing currents. During the incoming I stay glued to the sonar looking for suspended fish.

During the fastest parts of the incoming tide you will see boats line up at the Buoy 10 deadline. Their strategy is to be the first boats that these fish see in the river and pick off the biters. For my Buoy 10 fishing charter trips, I prefer choosing a strategic location where the fish stack up. Usually this is where they are transitioning from cold salt to warm fresh water. This spot will move with the tide. A properly dialed sonar can see the wedge of saltwater on the bottom. A few Coho will start hunting the current seams and the shoulders of the channel. They often mistake your gear for a last minute snack before heading upriver themselves.

For a few days during the middle of the season, the river water temperatures will peak out. This sandwiches the fish between warm water and high tide. The bite will be hot between Tongue Point and Rice Island. On these days I plan to burn fuel since I will need to move around a lot.

Buoy 10 locations for Late August through Labor Day

The tides soften towards the end of the Buoy 10 fishing season. As we approach labor day, the Coho also start to come in earnest. We also often get a “non-marked select” fishery at the end of the season. During a late season Buoy 10 fishing charter I spread out my focus. I try to make sure sure I have at least one line up high. If we are already limited on Fall Chinook then I keep everything mid-water or higher to target Coho. I also increase my trolling speed and shift to lures with more flash and chaotic action. This is the time to put both Fall Chinook and Coho in the freezer. Double fish days and full boat limits are fairly common at the end of the season.

The areas around Hammond and Astoria are at their best during this time. The outgoing tide just below the Megler bridge can be very productive, however it can also get crowded. If you want to avoid the crowds, try the north end of the bridge, or up along the anchorage. During a bigger tide pushes, especially if the water has started to cool, I often go above Tongue Point, even as high as the top of rice island.

Buoy 10 fishing Encore – Coho Rodeo Extravaganza

Once the Fall Chinook season closes most of the crowds and out of town fishing guides migrate upriver. This leaves the estuary to those who know the true secret gem of Buoy 10 fishing. The Coho that went wild in the ocean are now sized up and heading into the estuary.

Strong tides that befuddled Buoy 10 Fall Chinook anglers during the middle of August form a road map for Coho. The bulk of the “A run” coho will move into the estuary through mid-September, more than filling the gap left by the departure of their chinook brethren. Late September brings a slight dip as the first run tapers off, but this is only a breather. Early October hearkens the arrival of a second run of Coho. B-run Coho make up for their smaller numbers with heightened aggression.

Coho fishing is my favorite type of Buoy 10 fishing charter. The fish are usually suspended which allows me to use less lead and even divers. This means you get to feel the fish more during the fight. The lighter fishing pressure usually more action with little competition from other boats. Pulling into the dock with a bag full of dime bright fish in October is a thrill.

Fewer boats on the water is also good news if you like Crab. September marks the beginning of the best time of year to catch crab in the bay. A cooler full of coho and Dungeness crab makes for a classic fall feast.

What to Bring for your Buoy 10 Fishing Charter

Similar to the ocean, the weather at Buoy 10 can be all over the map. One day the water will be flat, the sky clear, and you’re looking for shade. The next day will be socked in with fog. The day after that can be overcast and breezy. There will almost always be wind in the afternoon. Always check the weather forecast ahead of time and dress in layers. It is usually fairly cool in the mornings, warms up around noon and then gets breezy and cool again in the afternoon. Having something to keep the wind off of you is always a good idea. Choppy water and wind in the afternoon will throw spray. A light rain jacket or poncho is generally recommended. A hoodie or sweatshirt over a t-shirt is ok for general wear most days. Lotion type sunscreen and sun-shirts are also a solid choice.

Bring snacks and any meals you might want to eat while we are on the water. The boat does not have a microwave so things that you can eat cold are a better choice.

What to do About Seasickness

If you know that you get seasick, or think you might get seasick make sure to take meclizine one hour before we leave the dock. This is also known as “Less-Drowsy Dramamine^(r)“. Buoy 10 is popular and there are a lot of other boats around throwing wakes which will add more motion. Make sure that you are well hydrated before the trip and bring water or other beverages along with you.

Setting Expectations

Buoy 10 has a reputation for lots of fish. This is true, but there are also lots of boats on the water. There are also good days and bad days. One of the biggest challenges of Buoy 10 fishing is that the water conditions are constantly changing. This means that a bite will heat up seemingly from nowhere. Bites last anywhere from 5 minutes to an hour, and then go quiet again. This off and on action can be frustrating for some. For me it’s part of what makes being a buoy 10 fishing guide so exciting.

This is also the one fishery where I can guarantee that we will be fishing close to other boats. There is always a chance of a tangle with someone’s gear. I’ve found that handling it with good nature tends to help everyone have a good day. Seals and Sea Lions can also create a challenge when it comes to getting a fish to the boat. This is just all part of the excitement.

Special Note on Hiring a Buoy 10 Fishing Guide

More than any fishery in our area, Buoy 10 attracts a lot of guides from outside the area. Many of these guides return year after year and have the knowledge to offer an excellent experience for you. Even with this influx of guides from out of town, there are often not enough seats to go around. Booking early is recommended, especially if you want a trip during the best times.

Unfortunately, Buoy 10 also attracts a lot of unlicensed guides. These guides may have fishing knowledge, but they have not been licensed by the states of Oregon or Washington. They also may not have passed a US Coast Guard approved licensing course and exam. You will also not be covered by insurance if something goes wrong. If your first choice guide is full, ask who the guide has on their “overflow list”. These are other guides that they trust to provide a good experience and might have open space.