What is the best setup for salmon fishing?

Despite its humble appearance as just an unassuming shipping marker at the mouth of the Columbia River between Oregon and Washington, Buoy 10 is one of the world’s premier salmon fisheries. Each year hundreds of thousands of Fall Chinook (King) and Coho Salmon pass through the mouth of the Columbia River, past Astoria at Buoy 10, while feeding on baitfish on their way upriver to spawn. The huge concentration of Salmon attracts anglers from all over the Pacific Northwest & beyond to Astoria, Warrenton and Illwaco for some amazing Buoy 10 salmon fishing.

The salmon run in 2023 looks like it could be another banner buoy 10 salmon fishing year, with an expected return of 1,225,900 Chinook & 570,000 Coho salmon to the Columbia River. While this bodes well for the future of the river’s fisheries, it is important to remember that a successful Salmon season at Buoy 10 requires patience and knowledge. The following salmon fishing tips will help you get on the right track and ensure you have a great day of Salmon fishing at Buoy 10.

Trolling baits like anchovies & herring behind flashers is a popular method for targeting both salmon at Buoy 10 as well as many other locations on the Columbia River. A long rod with a soft or medium tip, along with a line counter reel is the preferred setup. Using cut plug herring is often the best bait choice when fishing for Chinook or Coho at this location.

The water at the mouth of the Columbia River is constantly changing as the tides move in & out. It is important to keep up with daily tidal changes at the buoy, as they can greatly affect where & when fish will be caught. For example, a low incoming tide can be good for Chinook fishing, as the colder ocean water comes in behind the layer of warmer river water. The opposite is true on an outgoing tide, as warm river water pushes inland.

At the mouth of the Columbia River, there is often a break where colder ocean water meets the warmer river water. Fishing within this area on the flood tide is frequently very productive for both Chinook & Coho. A good sensitivity on your fish finder is vital to locate these areas.

The salmon season at Buoy 10 is open daily through Aug. 24 with a two hatchery-marked salmon per person limit. Then, a three hatchery-marked salmon daily limit takes effect Aug. 25-Sept. 7, followed by a Chinook season reopening in October. For details, visit the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s website.