Lower Columbia River
Base rotation
UPDATEDLarge exchange 8.7 ft
Daily center near RM 10.7
Base the rotation around Desdemona Sands near RM 10.7 for this 8.7 ft large exchange.
At Desdemona Sands, start with a spinner or SpinFish and tune weight or boat speed so the presentation fishes cleanly; bait...
A 8.7 ft large exchange favors a lower-river rotation toward the mouth from Desdemona Sands, moving upriver toward high slack...
Move with the tide
Times are Pacific local time.
5:00 AM - 5:22 AM
Low slack
RM 8.8
During 5:00 AM - 5:22 AM at Checkerboard, slow a spinner or SpinFish through the turn near RM 8.8; bait remains a valid alternative.
Hold near Checkerboard, then work one zone upriver when the flood establishes above RM 8.8.
During low slack from 5:00 AM - 5:22 AM, reset around Checkerboard near RM 8.8, with Hammond as the nearby option. This is the lower turn for today's 8.7 ft exchange.
5:22 AM - 10:40 AM
Flood (incoming)
RM 8.9
During 5:22 AM - 10:40 AM at Checkerboard, start with a spinner or SpinFish and tune weight and boat speed to hold RM 8.9; bait remains a valid alternative.
Move one zone upriver from Checkerboard when the flood strengthens or marks leave RM 8.9.
From 5:22 AM - 10:40 AM on the flood (incoming), work Checkerboard near RM 8.9, with Hammond as the nearby option. This 8.7 ft exchange calls for working upriver as the incoming current builds.
10:40 AM - 12:10 PM
High slack
RM 12.7
During 10:40 AM - 12:10 PM at Church Hole / Red Roof, slow a spinner or SpinFish through the turn near RM 12.7; bait remains a valid alternative.
Follow the first ebb downriver from Church Hole / Red Roof when marks stop holding near RM 12.7.
During high slack from 10:40 AM - 12:10 PM, center on Church Hole / Red Roof near RM 12.7, with Astoria-Megler Bridge as the nearby option. This is the upriver turn for today's 8.7 ft exchange.
12:10 PM - 3:42 PM
Ebb (outgoing)
RM 11.9
During 12:10 PM - 3:42 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 one zone downriver from Church Hole / Red Roof when the ebb strengthens or marks leave RM 11.9.
From 12:10 PM - 3:42 PM on the ebb (outgoing), work Church Hole / Red Roof near RM 11.9, with Desdemona Sands as the nearby option. On this 8.7 ft exchange, step downriver as the outgoing current builds.
3:42 PM - 5:12 PM
Low slack
RM 8.8
During 3:42 PM - 5:12 PM at Checkerboard, slow a spinner or SpinFish through the turn near RM 8.8; bait remains a valid alternative.
Hold near Checkerboard, then work one zone upriver when the flood establishes above RM 8.8.
During low slack from 3:42 PM - 5:12 PM, reset around Checkerboard near RM 8.8, with Hammond as the nearby option. This is the lower turn for today's 8.7 ft exchange.
5:12 PM - 9:00 PM
Flood (incoming)
RM 8.9
During 5:12 PM - 9:00 PM at Checkerboard, start with a spinner or SpinFish and tune weight and boat speed to hold RM 8.9; bait remains a valid alternative.
Move one zone upriver from Checkerboard when the flood strengthens or marks leave RM 8.9.
From 5:12 PM - 9:00 PM on the flood (incoming), work Checkerboard near RM 8.9, with Hammond as the nearby option. This 8.7 ft exchange calls for working upriver as the incoming current builds.
Named zones are approximate planning references.
Use current charts and navigation aids on the water. This image is not a navigation chart.