BarPilot

Lower Columbia River

Buoy 10 Fishing Plan

Updated Sep 1, 10:26 AM PDT

Thursday, September 3, 2026 fishing strategy

Base rotation

UPDATED

Astoria-Megler Bridge

Small exchange 5.7 ft

Daily center near RM 13.7

Opening move

Base the rotation around Astoria-Megler Bridge near RM 13.7 for this 5.7 ft small exchange.

Fish it right

At Astoria-Megler Bridge, start with a spinner or SpinFish and tune weight or boat speed so the presentation fishes cleanly...

Move with the tide

A 5.7 ft small exchange favors holding the Astoria-Megler Bridge area longer, moving upriver near high slack and lower again...

Wind: SSW at 12 mph, gusting 16 mph. Swell guidance is not available this far ahead. South wind can make the lower-river rotation less forgiving; shorten the run if conditions deteriorate. Updated Sep 1, 10:26 AM PDT

Move with the tide

Tide-stage plan

Times are Pacific local time.

5:00 AM - 5:36 AM

Flood (incoming)

RM 11.9

Gear

During 5:00 AM - 5:36 AM at Church Hole / Red Roof, start with a spinner or SpinFish and tune weight and boat speed to hold RM 11.9; bait remains a valid alternative.

Move when

Move one zone upriver from Church Hole / Red Roof when the flood strengthens or marks leave RM 11.9.

Why this move

From 5:00 AM - 5:36 AM on the flood (incoming), work Church Hole / Red Roof near RM 11.9, with Desdemona Sands as the nearby option. This 5.7 ft exchange calls for working upriver as the incoming current builds.

5:36 AM - 7:06 AM

High slack

RM 15.7

Gear

During 5:36 AM - 7:06 AM at Tankers / ship anchorage, slow a spinner or SpinFish through the turn near RM 15.7; bait remains a valid alternative.

Move when

Follow the first ebb downriver from Tankers / ship anchorage when marks stop holding near RM 15.7.

Why this move

During high slack from 5:36 AM - 7:06 AM, center on Tankers / ship anchorage near RM 15.7, with Shipwreck / rest area as the nearby option. This is the upriver turn for today's 5.7 ft exchange.

7:06 AM - 10:28 AM

Ebb (outgoing)

RM 14.9

Gear

During 7:06 AM - 10:28 AM at Astoria-Megler Bridge, start with a spinner or SpinFish and tune weight and boat speed to hold RM 14.9; bait remains a valid alternative.

Move when

Move one zone downriver from Astoria-Megler Bridge when the ebb strengthens or marks leave RM 14.9.

Why this move

From 7:06 AM - 10:28 AM on the ebb (outgoing), work Astoria-Megler Bridge near RM 14.9, with Tankers / ship anchorage as the nearby option. On this 5.7 ft exchange, step downriver as the outgoing current builds.

10:28 AM - 11:58 AM

Low slack

RM 11.8

Gear

During 10:28 AM - 11:58 AM at Church Hole / Red Roof, slow a spinner or SpinFish through the turn near RM 11.8; bait remains a valid alternative.

Move when

Hold near Church Hole / Red Roof, then work one zone upriver when the flood establishes above RM 11.8.

Why this move

During low slack from 10:28 AM - 11:58 AM, reset around Church Hole / Red Roof near RM 11.8, with Desdemona Sands as the nearby option. This is the lower turn for today's 5.7 ft exchange.

11:58 AM - 5:04 PM

Flood (incoming)

RM 11.9

Gear

During 11:58 AM - 5:04 PM at Church Hole / Red Roof, start with a spinner or SpinFish and tune weight and boat speed to hold RM 11.9; bait remains a valid alternative.

Move when

Move one zone upriver from Church Hole / Red Roof when the flood strengthens or marks leave RM 11.9.

Why this move

From 11:58 AM - 5:04 PM on the flood (incoming), work Church Hole / Red Roof near RM 11.9, with Desdemona Sands as the nearby option. This 5.7 ft exchange calls for working upriver as the incoming current builds.

5:04 PM - 6:34 PM

High slack

RM 15.7

Gear

During 5:04 PM - 6:34 PM at Tankers / ship anchorage, slow a spinner or SpinFish through the turn near RM 15.7; bait remains a valid alternative.

Move when

Follow the first ebb downriver from Tankers / ship anchorage when marks stop holding near RM 15.7.

Why this move

During high slack from 5:04 PM - 6:34 PM, center on Tankers / ship anchorage near RM 15.7, with Shipwreck / rest area as the nearby option. This is the upriver turn for today's 5.7 ft exchange.

6:34 PM - 9:00 PM

Ebb (outgoing)

RM 14.9

Gear

During 6:34 PM - 9:00 PM at Astoria-Megler Bridge, start with a spinner or SpinFish and tune weight and boat speed to hold RM 14.9; bait remains a valid alternative.

Move when

Move one zone downriver from Astoria-Megler Bridge when the ebb strengthens or marks leave RM 14.9.

Why this move

From 6:34 PM - 9:00 PM on the ebb (outgoing), work Astoria-Megler Bridge near RM 14.9, with Tankers / ship anchorage as the nearby option. On this 5.7 ft exchange, step downriver as the outgoing current builds.