Buoy 10 AI Fishing Guide

Locations

Baker Bay, Chinook area

Gear & Technique

Bait or stuffed lure; slow troll near the bottom.

Target Species

Chinook

Rationale

In the optimal 55-65°F temperature range during low slack, staging Chinook gather and stack near the river mouth. A slow troll near the bottom with bait or stuffed lures maximizes presentation time in the strike zone for holding fish.

Locations

Buoy 10, Church Hole, Tongue Point

Gear & Technique

Stuffed lures (SpinFish w/scent); 360 flasher.

Target Species

Both

Rationale

A large incoming tide exchange (~8.9 ft) will quickly push both Chinook and Coho upriver. Using durable stuffed lures with 360 flashers covers water effectively and withstands faster currents while following the fast migration from the lower buoy line up towards Tongue Point.

Locations

Astoria Bridge, Checkerboard

Gear & Technique

Bait or stuffed lure; slow troll.

Target Species

Chinook

Rationale

Peak bite often occurs right at the tide change. During high slack at optimal water temperatures, staging Chinook will readily take natural presentations like bait or slow-trolled stuffed lures around structural holding zones.

Locations

Flats near Chinook, Astoria Bridge, Desdemona edges

Gear & Technique

Bait or spinner; troll with the current.

Target Species

Chinook

Rationale

During a moderate outgoing tide in ideal temperatures, Chinook will hold in main channels and along channel edges. Trolling with the current using a mix of bait and spinners allows you to efficiently target these dropback holding zones.

Locations

Baker Bay, Chinook area

Gear & Technique

Bait or stuffed lure; slow troll.

Target Species

Chinook

Rationale

With low slack occurring mid-morning, incoming Chinook gather at the mouth. Optimal 59.3°F water temperatures make slow trolling bait or stuffed lures near the bottom highly effective for targeting these milling fish.

Locations

Buoy 10, Church Hole, Tongue Point

Gear & Technique

Stuffed lures (SpinFish w/scent) for both; 360 flasher.

Target Species

Both

Rationale

The massive flood tide (over 9 ft exchange) will rapidly push fresh fish upstream. Stuffed lures are incredibly durable at the faster troll speeds required to track this rapid migration from the lower estuary past Church Hole.

Locations

Tongue Point, Rice Island, Astoria Bridge

Gear & Technique

Bait or stuffed lures mid-column; slow troll.

Target Species

Chinook

Rationale

After a massive 9+ ft flood pushes fish far upriver, focusing on the upper estuary stretch (Tongue Point to Rice Island) during slack is ideal. Staging fish will strike natural bait or slowly trolled lures as the current halts.

Locations

Shipwreck, Astoria Bridge

Gear & Technique

Stuffed lures; heavy weights or divers for control.

Target Species

Both

Rationale

A large outward flow (>6 ft exchange) requires durable gear like stuffed lures that won't wash out in the strong current. Following the fish downriver with heavy weights maintains your presentation properly in the strike zone.