Fishing Guide for the Super Bowl of Salmon
Buoy 10 Salmon Fishing is our most famous activity on the water in Astoria. Freshly loaded after gorging on bait, these salmon are fired up and ready for their final journey. The clash of warmer river water with cool ocean water energizes them. The result is some of the most hard-fighting salmon fishing you will ever experience. Having spent countless hours learning and fishing Buoy 10, I’m ready to be your Buoy 10 fishing guide.
Table of Contents
Basic Buoy 10 fishing techniques
Buoy 10 is entirely a game of trolling with flashers at different depths. Plenty of fish continue to meet their end on both triangle and 360 flashers. A typical setup includes a line-lock slider with a dropper to a cannonball weight. Behind the slider is a bead-chain swivel connected to a bumper, usually made of heavy monofilament and another swivel. A flasher is then connected with another swivel and then a leader down to the business end. 3.5 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. 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 the system.
Picking the Right Spot(s) for Buoy 10 Chinook and Coho
More than any other fishery Buoy 10 is about timing and observing conditions. Early on in the season and during low tides, the action tends to focus lower in the system, from Chinook and Hammond down to the Buoy 10 deadline. As the season progresses the fish will distribute more. Warmer water in the Columbia can block the fish from moving up and hold them near the Megler Bridge. Strong high tides will often push the fish up around Tongue Point or even higher. Both sides of the river can be productive. Sometimes the decision is literally based on where the wind is blowing since wind and chop can mean the difference between fishing effectively and not. Building the expertise on where to be and when is a lot of what I have focused on as a guide.
What to Bring
Similar to the ocean, our weather can be all over the map. One day the water will be flat, the sky clear, and you’re looking for shade. The next can be socked in with fog. The day after that can be overcast. 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 can throw spray, so 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 is definitely recommended. Sun-shirts are also a great option.
If you know that you get seasick, think you might get seasick, or have ever thought about the idea that you can get seasick, make sure to take meclizine one hour before we leave the dock. This is also known as “Less-Drowsy Dramamine<®>”. There are a lot of other boats around throwing wakes which will rock our boat. Also, make sure that you are well hydrated prior to the trip and bring water or other hydrating beverages along with you.
As usual, bring snacks and any meals you might want to eat while we are on the water. Keep in mind the boat does not have a microwave so things that you can eat cold are a better choice.
Setting Expectations
One of the biggest challenges of Buoy 10 is that the water conditions are constantly changing. This means that a bite will heat up seemingly from nowhere, last anywhere from 5 minutes to 1 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.
During a Buoy 10 charter trip, these changing conditions mean lots of moves, gear changes, and depth adjustments. Be ready to pay close attention to the line counter on your reel and make adjustments as needed. The goal is to be in front of the fish that are biting.
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. We may also find ourselves attempting to outwit a seal or Sea Lion when it comes to getting a fish to the boat. This is just all part of the excitement.