BarPilot

Lower Columbia River

Buoy 10 Fishing Plan

Updated Oct 11, 7:22 PM PDT

Friday, October 16, 2026 fishing strategy

Base rotation

UPDATED

Church Hole / Red Roof

Small exchange 6.7 ft

Daily center near RM 12.7

Opening move

Base the rotation around Church Hole / Red Roof near RM 12.7 for this 6.7 ft small exchange.

Fish it right

At Church Hole / Red Roof, start with a spinner or SpinFish and tune weight or boat speed so the presentation fishes cleanly...

Move with the tide

A 6.7 ft small exchange favors holding the Church Hole / Red Roof area longer, moving upriver near high slack and lower again...

Wind: SE at 5 mph, gusting 9 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 Oct 11, 7:22 PM PDT

Move with the tide

Tide-stage plan

Times are Pacific local time.

5:00 AM - 5:09 AM

Flood (incoming)

RM 10.9

Gear

During 5:00 AM - 5:09 AM at Desdemona Sands, start with a spinner or SpinFish and tune weight and boat speed to hold RM 10.9; bait remains a valid alternative.

Move when

Move one zone upriver from Desdemona Sands when the flood strengthens or marks leave RM 10.9.

Why this move

From 5:00 AM - 5:09 AM on the flood (incoming), work Desdemona Sands near RM 10.9, with Green line as the nearby option. This 6.7 ft exchange calls for working upriver as the incoming current builds.

5:09 AM - 6:39 AM

High slack

RM 14.7

Gear

During 5:09 AM - 6:39 AM at Astoria-Megler Bridge, slow a spinner or SpinFish through the turn near RM 14.7; bait remains a valid alternative.

Move when

Follow the first ebb downriver from Astoria-Megler Bridge when marks stop holding near RM 14.7.

Why this move

During high slack from 5:09 AM - 6:39 AM, center on Astoria-Megler Bridge near RM 14.7, with Tankers / ship anchorage as the nearby option. This is the upriver turn for today's 6.7 ft exchange.

6:39 AM - 9:46 AM

Ebb (outgoing)

RM 13.9

Gear

During 6:39 AM - 9:46 AM at Astoria-Megler Bridge, start with a spinner or SpinFish and tune weight and boat speed to hold RM 13.9; bait remains a valid alternative.

Move when

Move one zone downriver from Astoria-Megler Bridge when the ebb strengthens or marks leave RM 13.9.

Why this move

From 6:39 AM - 9:46 AM on the ebb (outgoing), work Astoria-Megler Bridge near RM 13.9, with Church Hole / Red Roof as the nearby option. On this 6.7 ft exchange, step downriver as the outgoing current builds.

9:46 AM - 11:16 AM

Low slack

RM 10.8

Gear

During 9:46 AM - 11:16 AM at Desdemona Sands, slow a spinner or SpinFish through the turn near RM 10.8; bait remains a valid alternative.

Move when

Hold near Desdemona Sands, then work one zone upriver when the flood establishes above RM 10.8.

Why this move

During low slack from 9:46 AM - 11:16 AM, reset around Desdemona Sands near RM 10.8, with Green line as the nearby option. This is the lower turn for today's 6.7 ft exchange.

11:16 AM - 3:50 PM

Flood (incoming)

RM 10.9

Gear

During 11:16 AM - 3:50 PM at Desdemona Sands, start with a spinner or SpinFish and tune weight and boat speed to hold RM 10.9; bait remains a valid alternative.

Move when

Move one zone upriver from Desdemona Sands when the flood strengthens or marks leave RM 10.9.

Why this move

From 11:16 AM - 3:50 PM on the flood (incoming), work Desdemona Sands near RM 10.9, with Green line as the nearby option. This 6.7 ft exchange calls for working upriver as the incoming current builds.

3:50 PM - 5:20 PM

High slack

RM 14.7

Gear

During 3:50 PM - 5:20 PM at Astoria-Megler Bridge, slow a spinner or SpinFish through the turn near RM 14.7; bait remains a valid alternative.

Move when

Follow the first ebb downriver from Astoria-Megler Bridge when marks stop holding near RM 14.7.

Why this move

During high slack from 3:50 PM - 5:20 PM, center on Astoria-Megler Bridge near RM 14.7, with Tankers / ship anchorage as the nearby option. This is the upriver turn for today's 6.7 ft exchange.

5:20 PM - 9:00 PM

Ebb (outgoing)

RM 13.9

Gear

During 5:20 PM - 9:00 PM at Astoria-Megler Bridge, start with a spinner or SpinFish and tune weight and boat speed to hold RM 13.9; bait remains a valid alternative.

Move when

Move one zone downriver from Astoria-Megler Bridge when the ebb strengthens or marks leave RM 13.9.

Why this move

From 5:20 PM - 9:00 PM on the ebb (outgoing), work Astoria-Megler Bridge near RM 13.9, with Church Hole / Red Roof as the nearby option. On this 6.7 ft exchange, step downriver as the outgoing current builds.