What does a first timer t/buoy10 need to know

[fishingchef]

Hi All,
I recently got my first boat and plan on trying the buoy 10 area. What are some good things to know about the area and fishing etiquette there?

[Killertraylor]

Depending on how big your boat is, don't plan on fishing on an ebb tide if the northwest wind is blowing 20 mph or more. I don't think there really is an etiquitte - just try to miss everyone and if they are all trolling into the current at the buoy, don't go trolling sideways through everyone! Take a few people with you to help man the rods while you drive the boat as it's difficult to do both. Also, you don't need to be right at the buoy - there are plenty of fish coming through several hundred yards to either side of the buoy and the fewer boats in those areas make for more enjoyable fishing. Or, do what a lot of us do and avoid the buoy all together and fish upriver.

The standard fare is a black or red delta diver (although lots of colors work) with 6 foot leader and a cut plug or whole herring. You can get fresh herring at the bait shops. Lots of guys use the fish flash flashers. Other divers work fine too.

People only fish the buoy on the incoming tide as it's the "deadline" for the ocean. You can't fish on the ocean side of the buoy until you get a few miles offshore. On the ebb tides, most guys troll downriver from the bridge on the Washington side.

[lost_sailor]

Besides the fact that salmon can only be caught within 100 feet of the red buoy with a "10" on it? :wink:

REMAIN CALM. More than enough angry meatheads are already there.

Troll in the same direction as the other boats (upstream or downstream, not ACROSS-stream)

Make sure your horn works.

Big ocean + big river demands respect. HEADS UP! NO BEER! When the tide starts running OUT, you should be on solid ground icing down salmon.

When you have landed a fish, you will look up and find yourself 1/2 a mile from where you were. This is normal.

Don't forget the crab traps.

[CATCH AND EAT]

Be prepared! Safety items, flares, marine band radio, cell phone, LIFE JACKETS!!!!, throw cushion, and put the plug in the boat too. A gps can be a life saver as well. You might try to buddy up with another boat too.

Don't push yourself to hard the first time out. Find out what your limits are (comfort level) and stick with it. don't try to be a hero. Never works out there.

You did not say where you are launching from or what size boat you are using. :shrug: It does matter when conditions are less than perfect as to where you can and should fish. Personnally, a 1st timer should fish in someone elses boat or take a salty seasoned person with them. This has been said over and over again on this board. It's good advice too. I did this 6 years ago when I first started to visit B-10 area.

BTW, here's a big secret. You don't have to fish right up on the line to do real well. Bouy 12, 14, The woodchip pile near Warrenton, the church hole on the Washington side and up and beyond the bridge are just a few fishy spots.

One last thing. Study a river chart before you go. Identify the dolphins, wing dams and bouys so you know where you are.

Gear? Good salmon rods, reels, at least 30lb main line, 40 leader, delta divers, flashers, fishflash, and good quality herring are the baits of choice.

Good luck. you might want to search the archives too. Tons of information about tides and where to fish during what tide. Very helpful stuff.

[Flatfish]

Stay away from bouy ten( get upstream by Hammond or Chinook)on the 2nd half of the outgoing tide.

The wind usually picks up around 11-noon. Keep an eye on it. Especially if it changes direction.

Know how to launch before you get to the ramp. If you take too long, people will frown upon you.

The bouy 10 area will produce fish. So will most everything else. If you don't like bumper boats, fish away from the deadline. Look for 35-50 feet of water. Fish there( the channel).

This is big water. if you are not familiar with the boat, have a phone, and preferably a radio. For the first day, stay semi close to the ramp 2 miles if a good number.

Have fun. Some great times to be had.

Mark and the dog.

[husker]

get routine down.....keep your eyes open......stay sharp....watch the other guy.....since he isnt watching you....be prepared to gas it and move away from trouble.....

keep your lines close to the boat..no long line fishing out there.....tangle city if u do

if your using a delta diver you will need a med heavy to heavy action rod....delta divers put a serious bend in your rod.....

[fishingchef]

Thanks for all the responce.
I have a 16 ft seaswirl. I guess I would put in around Hammond.

[freespool]

Fishingchef, all the above is all good info. One thing I would like to add,as your approching bouy 14 from up river do not cut across to your left. This area is known as Clatsop Spit. Also don't fish near the South jetty on the flood tide. If your motor fails you'll be pushed on the spit by the tide. In a 16ft. I'd watch the weather, if the wind kicks up head in.Another thing watch yourself when your in the shipping channel,you don't have the right of way,the big guys do. Stop and get a map of the area,know where your going. Most bait shops sell them. Good luck.

[ 07-31-2003, 09:16 AM: Message edited by: freespool ]

[dawhunt]

Its a ZOO !!,but great fun and lots of fish.
Just stay alert watch out for those who don't watch out for you.Have a good time.
Bob

[Gr8waves]

If you are going to be right at 10 have 3 people in the boat - 1 fighting the fish, 1 netting and the third keeping safe control of the boat. When the tide starts ripping in you will be suprised how rough it gets from 300 boats racing to the Buoy, backtrolling upstream, and then racing back to the Buoy. Add in any swells and wakes from ocean going cargo vessels , boats fighting fish that are drifting uncontrolled and you can guess why I like to have someone in control of my boat at all times. EDIT - the person in control pays attention to other boats and conditions, not the fish being netted.

[ 07-31-2003, 09:20 AM: Message edited by: Gr8waves ]

[TundraIII]

My biggest peev when out at B10 is the jerk who likes to zig-zag between, in front of and behind of everyone else with 100 yards of line out on each of his 4 poles and trolling at twice the speed everyone else is. Do yourself a favor and stay out of the thickest portion of the crowd. If its your first time out on your own boat you probably wont want to get involved in that any way.

[Knucklebuster]

Buy a gun-boat. :wink:

[crabbait]

Stay away from the fiberglass, find the aluminum (especially with phone numbers on the side). Try the Washington side between Chinook and the bridge for big piggies! Smaller swells, better by far for little boats, far fewer massive Bayliners trolling at 5 knots pouring down the barley pops!

When the tide heads out and the wind comes up be off the river.

[Rod Holder]

first boat? 16 foot Seasquirle? I'd suggest launching in Warrenton and just fishing your way down river on the Oregon side. When the winds start blowing you'll have an easier run back to the launch. Get the feel for your boat, the river, and the weather before you go running to far....my $0.02

[IFISH4U]

I would just launch out of Deep River and run up to the Astoria bridge, the run up in the morning is always decent and on the way back if it gets rough your going with the waves, not into them, you`ll see everyone on the Washington side near the bridge, its best right were the bridge levels out, from highway 4 to level area of bridge, fish right were it levels out, have caught several just underneath the bridge, plus watching the current go by the pillars gives you a good idea how fast the current is going and what speed to troll at, just sit steady in the current and put your rigs behind the boat, usually they are between 15 and 40 feet down, they love cut-plugs, if your not sure how to get out of Deep river without getting grounded, you can ask someone down there if you can follow them out, or e-mail me, Ill draw you a map, but hey its just a suggestion, maybe someone else can use this advice too. Good Luck and dont forget about the second hightide in the evening, eveyone else does. :dance:

[Jennie@ifish]

Blue pig:

Right on! It's just too much of a zoo out there!
:smile:

[Tacklebuster]

Rule#1- Hit the water at low slack or the start of the flood.

Rule#2- Run out to 10 and slow down long enough to get a good look at the idiots trolling around everywhich direction in the swells, wind chop, and boat wake and remind yourself of this vision everytime you think # 10 is where I need to fish.

Rule#3- Depending on the conditions and your know how, run out to #4, drop gear and follow the red line to the plug, or go the other way and start fishing #14 and hold your pace with the current loosing ground little by little.

Good luck and be safe, live to fish another day. I think #10 a lot of the times is far more dangerous than hoping the bar and hitting the big pond. I have a marginal boat for the ocean and will try to hop the bar anytime I feel it's safe. See you in the jungle :cheers:

[rags]

Stay away from 10. If you launch out of Hammond or Warrenton fish the green can line up to the bridge. Plenty of fish and much more enjoyable. If you need to you can run out there and see why you don't want to fight the madness. Start at the begining of incoming. Stay away from 10 on a ebb tide. When the tide is in you can run across from the Oregon side and fish the Church hole. Good for Chinooks. I'll be putting at Hammond at the start of the incoming. Teal Alumaweld sled.

[Conspiracy Theory]

Ok, Sorry for another one of my stupid questions but you guys and gals are so forgiving and my need to know is so strong I have to ask.

What is this "green can line" and "red line" thing we are supposed to follow? Are you talking about the red and green bouys or ??? If you are talking about the bouys are you meaning to stay near one side (red or green side of river) or is there some other meaning?

Thanks and I am trying very hard to keep the stupid questions to a minimum.

[6 point]

U got it,,Its the bouy line,,,30 to 50 feet of water,,its easyer to do that than when your fighting a fish in the channel an a big ship is comeing right @ you. Troll the same way as everyone else watch your distance an dont have to go out more than 12 to 16 pulls. Watch out for the spit on strong ebb,,Ive seen it break out pass 14..it will pull you in!..Be alert!

[blubeast]

Just remember, the fish are passing thru the area... they'll pass B10 heading upstream... so after you check out the zoo right at B10, go back upstream to a less populated area and enjoy fishing.

B10 is true combat fishing which puts boat & gear at risk. Lots of boats of all sizes fighting for their spot. Not a good place for a firsttimer.

Lots of fish are caught right outside your launch.

Have a safe trip.

[ 07-31-2003, 12:45 PM: Message edited by: blubeast ]

[HammondSeaRanger]

best advice for bouy 10 ... don't go.

Fish the washington side of the Megler, (big green bridge from Astoria to Washington), on the west side.

[fishingchef]

Thanks everyone for the great advice.

[rojo]

Do stay at least 300 yds from those big plastic bayliners. We don't know where the fish are LOL...Roger

[CATCH AND EAT]

Originally posted by crabbait:
Stay away from the fiberglass, find the aluminum (especially with phone numbers on the side). Try the Washington side between Chinook and the bridge for big piggies! Smaller swells, better by far for little boats, far fewer massive Bayliners trolling at 5 knots pouring down the barley pops!

When the tide heads out and the wind comes up be off the river. <font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">I am directly offended by this post. Where are the mods when you need them? :shocked: :grin: :wink:

Actually, Steve is right about the boats with the numbers on them (telephone that is). However, if you see my boat there the fish are there too! :wink: Clarification: in my fish box too. :tongue:

[ 08-01-2003, 08:53 AM: Message edited by: CATCH AND EAT ]

[WaterDog]

Then there are those of us that will stay well clear of B10. Like 90 miles or so. :tongue: We'll have hassle free ramps, nice 80+ degree temps, catch big URB's, and only an hour or less drive. :grin:

You guys be safe and have fun. :cheers:

[Tacklebuster]

WaterDog- Don't you actually have to catch a couple of those URB's to post a reply about the area :wink: :grin: