BarPilot

Lower Columbia River

Buoy 10 Fishing Plan

Updated Aug 17, 2:21 PM PDT

Saturday, September 12, 2026 fishing strategy

Base rotation

TIDE PLAN READY

Desdemona Sands

Large exchange 8.5 ft

Daily center near RM 10.8

Opening move

Base the rotation around Desdemona Sands near RM 10.8 for this 8.5 ft large exchange.

Fish it right

At Desdemona Sands, start with a spinner or SpinFish and tune weight or boat speed so the presentation fishes cleanly; bait...

Move with the tide

A 8.5 ft large exchange favors a lower-river rotation toward the mouth from Desdemona Sands, moving upriver toward high slack...

Wind and swell forecasts are not available this far ahead. The tide plan is ready and will refresh automatically when date-specific conditions become available. Updated Aug 17, 2:21 PM PDT

Move with the tide

Tide-stage plan

Times are Pacific local time.

5:00 AM - 7:24 AM

Ebb (outgoing)

RM 12.0

Gear

During 5:00 AM - 7:24 AM at Church Hole / Red Roof, start with a spinner or SpinFish and tune weight and boat speed to hold RM 12.0; bait remains a valid alternative.

Move when

Move one zone downriver from Church Hole / Red Roof when the ebb strengthens or marks leave RM 12.0.

Why this move

From 5:00 AM - 7:24 AM on the ebb (outgoing), work Church Hole / Red Roof near RM 12.0, with Desdemona Sands as the nearby option. On this 8.5 ft exchange, step downriver as the outgoing current builds.

7:24 AM - 8:54 AM

Low slack

RM 8.9

Incoming entry option

Use the Buoy 10 line before or at the first of the incoming, then treat it as an entry rather than a place to hold through the full flood.

Move upriver when the flood establishes, marks leave the lower line, or the entry does not develop.

Check current wind and swell before using this option.

Gear

During 7:24 AM - 8:54 AM at Checkerboard, slow a spinner or SpinFish through the turn near RM 8.9; bait remains a valid alternative.

Move when

Hold near Checkerboard, then work one zone upriver when the flood establishes above RM 8.9.

Why this move

During low slack from 7:24 AM - 8:54 AM, reset around Checkerboard near RM 8.9, with Hammond as the nearby option. This is the lower turn for today's 8.5 ft exchange.

8:54 AM - 1:51 PM

Flood (incoming)

RM 9.0

Incoming entry option

Use the Buoy 10 line before or at the first of the incoming, then treat it as an entry rather than a place to hold through the full flood.

Move upriver when the flood establishes, marks leave the lower line, or the entry does not develop.

Check current wind and swell before using this option.

Gear

During 8:54 AM - 1:51 PM at Checkerboard, start with a spinner or SpinFish and tune weight and boat speed to hold RM 9.0; bait remains a valid alternative.

Move when

Move one zone upriver from Checkerboard when the flood strengthens or marks leave RM 9.0.

Why this move

From 8:54 AM - 1:51 PM on the flood (incoming), work Checkerboard near RM 9.0, with Green line as the nearby option. This 8.5 ft exchange calls for working upriver as the incoming current builds.

1:51 PM - 3:21 PM

High slack

RM 12.8

Gear

During 1:51 PM - 3:21 PM at Church Hole / Red Roof, slow a spinner or SpinFish through the turn near RM 12.8; bait remains a valid alternative.

Move when

Follow the first ebb downriver from Church Hole / Red Roof when marks stop holding near RM 12.8.

Why this move

During high slack from 1:51 PM - 3:21 PM, center on Church Hole / Red Roof near RM 12.8, with Astoria-Megler Bridge as the nearby option. This is the upriver turn for today's 8.5 ft exchange.

3:21 PM - 7:52 PM

Ebb (outgoing)

RM 12.0

Gear

During 3:21 PM - 7:52 PM at Church Hole / Red Roof, start with a spinner or SpinFish and tune weight and boat speed to hold RM 12.0; bait remains a valid alternative.

Move when

Move one zone downriver from Church Hole / Red Roof when the ebb strengthens or marks leave RM 12.0.

Why this move

From 3:21 PM - 7:52 PM on the ebb (outgoing), work Church Hole / Red Roof near RM 12.0, with Desdemona Sands as the nearby option. On this 8.5 ft exchange, step downriver as the outgoing current builds.

7:52 PM - 9:00 PM

Low slack

RM 8.9

Gear

During 7:52 PM - 9:00 PM at Checkerboard, slow a spinner or SpinFish through the turn near RM 8.9; bait remains a valid alternative.

Move when

Hold near Checkerboard, then work one zone upriver when the flood establishes above RM 8.9.

Why this move

During low slack from 7:52 PM - 9:00 PM, reset around Checkerboard near RM 8.9, with Hammond as the nearby option. This is the lower turn for today's 8.5 ft exchange.