Bouy 10 Virgin Run

rags · 07-26-2001, 10:13 AM

O.K., I'm going to give it a try this year in my boat for the first time. I've been with friends but want to take my 19ft. Super Vee and give it a try. I'm looking for advice from my IFisher friends. What is the best place to put-in? Anything I should look out for (other boats I know)? Best way to fish it? Or any advice you want to throw my way would be appreciated. Besides Bouy 10 what other places in the area could I fish? [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

rags · 07-26-2001, 10:17 AM

Ooops, Buoy (sp)

fishinfool · 07-26-2001, 10:37 AM

Rags i was in your shoes last year with my buddy Tryin2fish. I mean I had been out the with my father and Grandfather but never by myself. The best thing I can tell you is avoid the strong ebb tide at buoy 10 as that is almost the ocean so it gets rough. Most people run up towards the Astoria Megler bridge on the low slack and slowly move towards Buoy 10 with the outgoing. Be at the line (bouy 10) on the incoming tide is what we found worked for us. I am sure you know to stay away from the break water on the oregon side as that is clatsop spit. Let the coast guard Play there they seem to like it but make sure they aren't pulling you out of there. [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] We just used divers anywhere from 10 to 30 pulls and found out that the "Fish Flash" was the ticket. Used whole herring bought at Tackle Time in warrenton. Usually launched out of Warrenton which is a smaller ramp but has a nice little no wake troll to the main river in which time we would rig up and allow the boat to warm up. Hammond dumps you right into the main river. Also found some HUGE potholes on the Hammond ramp. [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img] Anyway Be safe and I hope this helps you some as I am sure you will get many more hints. Also pray for little to no wind have all your safety gear and when you get out there drop bait and HOLD ON!! Best of luck. Tim [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Bait O' Eggs · 07-26-2001, 10:57 AM

Rags,
I made my virgin run last year and went alone. I launched at Ft. Canby state park, (the next 2 trips I moved over to hammond). I headed out to bouy 10 at the crack of dawn looking for bouy 10. I spot a bouy and head for it. Imagine my dissapointment when I found a big 11 on the green bouy. I then pulled out my river map and looked at it trying to find where 10 is from 11, and see where the even numbers are red and the odd ones are green. I motor out to 10 and find a pack of boats that dwarfs the boat show at the expo center, and the boats are parked closer together on the water than at the show. I survey the situation and start to fish. The water was running out pretty fast and my 10 hp motor could not push my 18 foot boat fast enough to keep from losing ground. Next thing you know I am outside of 10 and having to fire up the big motor to get back inside 10. The running water was getting rough and the boats cutting in and out of each other was really creating a wake. When I took a big wave over the back of the boat getting me all wet, I fired up the gps, and put it in one pocket, then the hand helf VHF radio in the other pocket. I was planning on calling in the coast guard from the water I felt I was gonna be going into pretty soon. After a few rude boats cut so close to me they actually were driving into my line, and splashing water into my boat, I decided this SUCKED and headed back in to bouy 11. I found some calmer water and relaxed for a minute. About then I hear MAYDAY, MAYDAY capsized vessel, 5 people in the water........ It didnt take long for the coast guard to respond, but the people were picked up by other boaters before the CG got there. This left a very strong impression on me, since I hadnt left the exact spot 5 minutes earlier the boat got rolled over. I saw the CG pull the boat in later. They got it righted and pumped out. It looked to be about a 20 foot alumaweld with windshield and top.

This will always be with me. Stay away from bouy 10 when the water is running out. If the nose of your boat is not pointing towards the ocean at bouy 10 when you are fishing, you are doing something wrong.

Please be carefull. Bouy 10 is way over rated, the fishing up towards the bridge is just as good as bouy 10, it only takes the fish 30 minutes +/- longer to get there. And the fish are not even coming in on those big outrunning tides. But when you are at bouy 10 and they are coming thru, you can definately see where they are at, nets flying everywhere.

Phish_on · 07-26-2001, 12:31 PM

Check the "Buoy 10 camping" thread ...

Between the crowd and the ocean-ness of it all, I never take my poor old boat all the way out to buoy 10 (have a chart, know where the buoys are - and the PILINGS) - always done pretty well on the WA side near the Ilwaco entrance - it's good for crabbing around there too. But 10 is a fine place if you're up for it. Start out as far out as you can and the fish will come in with the tide.

Fish the edges of the rips, watch for waving nets, feeding birds, and so on. Assume that any advice from other boats is 95% B.S. !!

Divers and whole herring on a slip-tie rig for me - 9-15 pulls ... and go from there. Watch what other boats are catching 'em on. I use the binoculars a lot!! So behave yourself [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]

SteelieSteve · 07-26-2001, 01:09 PM

My one experience at Buoy 10 was scary. You don't want to be out there when the tides running out. I was in a 23 foot Reinell with a full top and we had waves breaking over us. The boat had a pair of 115 evinrudes and they barely had enough power to get us upriver. I'd like to go again when the tides right. Gotta be a hot bite!

Thumper · 07-26-2001, 01:50 PM

We launched at Chinook (Washington side) this morning and there was only one other boat putting in. Beautiful ramp. Tons of fish outside, but kinda lumpy on the bar as the tide ebbed

rags · 07-26-2001, 09:57 PM

Thanks for the good information everyone. How long before ebb tide should you think about moving out? If I put in at Warrenton how do you get to the Church hole hack2ee? Also, you said it is good fishing from Hammond to Skipanon? If I put in at Warrenton and come out of the Skipanon Waterway do you turn left and start trolling off the bank towards Fort Stevens and Hammond? What is the best tide to fish in here? Thanks!

fishinfool · 07-26-2001, 10:30 PM

Rags the church hole is you look straight across the river to the washington side from the Hammond entrance and you will see a church. Trolled right in front of there last year and wife boated a BIG Chinook. I start running back up to the bridge at high slack. I don't even want to be there when the tide starts heading out. As far as fishing between Skippinon and Hammond never have done it but see boats there at all times... Best of luck Tim [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[ 07-27-2001: Message edited by: fishinfool ]

hack2ee · 07-26-2001, 11:25 PM

more coho closer to the "firing line", more chinook closer to the bridge or on the washington side around the chuch. they dont call it the firing line for nothing! i like warrenton's ramp/marina. less congestion you got the good people at tackle time too! its a little more of a run but hey! i like boat rides! the fishing can be good on the oregon side too from hammond up to the skipanon, especialy near the sawdust pile. be carefull of currents almost died last year when my wife flooded my 2 stroke 75, almost sucked into a dolphin! always watch were you are even when boating a big chinook. watch for bar pilot boat, sends a big, and i meen big wake out. even on the other side of the river.

Pilar · 07-27-2001, 06:44 AM

Please, Please, Please stay away from the B-10 on the ebb tide. The fishing sucks anyway. As mentioned above the Chinook and church areas on the Wa. side are productive on the ebb. The yellow can at the end of the Desdemona shoal is also a chinook hotspot. And the other good thing is the Oregon shore upstream from Hammond. I think some of you guys call this the Sawdust pile.

Bottom line is that there is no reason to go to B-10 on the ebb tide. Unless it is your first time and you didn't believe the rest of us, Eh bait? Remember the Coast Guard train their troops here at the roughest bar in the U.S.

Phish_on · 07-27-2001, 07:18 AM

I guess the Church Hole is more or less straight across from the Skipanon ... but you will want to go around the Desdemona Sands, last time I put in at low tide and the sand was exposed - I'd save the Church Hole for the flood tide, start out further and follow the fish (and boats) up the river ...

Never had much luck at the sawdust pile, I think because I've only fished it as a last resort and then the tide is running out so hard the water is all stirred up and murky, etc. Historically, though, some big chinooks get caught there. It would be a good choice in nasty weather, if the wind is coming from the south the WA side can be unbearable, while the OR side is a little more sheltered.

Another place to stay WAY CLEAR of is the south jetty ... you'll recognize it by the breaking waves and the Coast Guard helicopter overhead looking for victims ... [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img]

MAN can you tell I'm ALL EXCITED !?!?!?? Don't think I'll get down there until the 17th or thereabouts - - I'll be tuned to every report, go get 'em ... but leave some to get fatter [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

Ramstrong · 07-27-2001, 07:22 AM

The new STS has a good article about B-10 as well. It has a nice pic of a nautical chart showing where the above mentioned spots are.

new boat · 07-27-2001, 09:58 AM

What is STS??

rags · 07-27-2001, 10:10 AM

Salmon Trout Steelhead Magazine (STS)

new boat · 07-27-2001, 10:17 AM

Where do you buy STS??? [img]images/icons/confused.gif[/img]

rags · 07-27-2001, 10:21 AM

I think most Fred Meyers have STS.

Nuttinbutnet · 07-27-2001, 10:44 AM

Have caught alot of fish at the bridge on the WA. side. Launch at Chinook. Fresh Herring Cut Plug, six to seven foot leader, six ounces of lead on an 18" dropper, sixteen pulls and hang on!!! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

Nuttinbutnet · 07-27-2001, 10:46 AM

Another thing I forgot. It does really help to launch on the side of the river you are going to fish. Wind at tide change can sometimes make crossing the river really hairy!

Hookset · 07-27-2001, 12:06 PM

Heed the warning about the ebb. In fact the afternoon ebb can produce rough waves anywhere on the lower river.

The largest contigent of boats fish the line (buoy 10) and the Washington channel from above the bridge down to the wings dams off Chinook. After this, you'll see boats scattered everywhere from the Oregon side from the bridge to buoy 10, a span of 10 miles. On the Oregon side, the red buoy line can be popular, the deep water along the Oregon shore between Warrenton and Hammond, have seen boats catching a higher percentage of tule chinook in this location. The other area to catch salmon is the lower end of Desdomona along the depth changes. Did very well last year fishing 17 to 25 foot along the edges at the beginning of the outgoing tide.

The popular areas are crowded and not always the best fishing as to much boat traffic will move fish around.

Bouy 10 can be HOT at the tide change just before the onrush of the incoming and the next several hours. The last half of the incoming will find boats scattered from the line all the way past the bridge. At this time, I'll troll with the tide on the Washington side from the Chinook wing dams
and past the bridge. Look around the bridge on the Washington side and you'll see 100's of boats playing bumper boats just south of the main Washington channel. They're looking for chinook. The depth changes from 20 to 35 feet down to 30 to 45 feet, even over 50 depending on what line your on. The boats here will hold against the current and hold over a spot waiting for a chinook. Use a diver at 20 to 30 pulls with 7 foot leaders, bead chain swivel in the middle and fresh cut plug herring, flasher or dodger is optional. I use shorther leaders for silvers without a bead chain. You'll see lots of guide boats fishing here since they like to target chinooks. When using the diver, I often keep pulling line (count the pulls) off the reel at trolling speed until I touch bottom, then reel up 2 cranks and watch the depth finder and the rod tips to keep off the bottom but close to it. I keep adjusting the line up and down to stay within 5 feet of the bottom. This is another reason you'll hear people talk about trolling a depth line. I troll up and down the same depth line to keep from having to constantly change diver depth. Like 16 to 25 for silvers, 30 to 35 for chinook and such. Also when using divers have everyone in the boat using the same size, just very the line out. Example fishing 4 rods. Forward rods rig for silvers, diver, fish flash and 4 foot leaders with anchovy or cut plug herring at 15 pulls. Aft rods rig for chinook with longer leaders and diver at 20 pulls plus depending on depth. Keep adjusting your depth if your not catching fish and others around you are. Sometimes even a color change can make the difference. I used to use lead, but found you needed to change ounces depending on trolling with or against the tide which was a pain. I think my success is better with divers for this fishery since the fish are fresh and a diver keeps the bait in the right zone all the time.

If you have a VHF you'll here lots of fish chatter that'll help clue you in. When you see other boats hooking up, pay attention to the depth they are on and direction they are trolling, that's clue number 1.

For silvers, I found color does make a difference with diver selection and fish flashers can help. My best success was red and silver divers with red and silver fish flashers, a difference of 3 to 1 aginst any other combo. Just carry enough variety of colors and start with different colors on each rod. I like greens, red/silver, red, pink/green.....the list is almost endless with EZ or delta divers and I prefer the larger size.

For bait, we used fresh whole and cut plug herring and fresh whole anchovies. The cut plug did very well and accounted for most of the fish. My last 3 trips I got dialed in with anchovies and on the line, they were hot and out performed the herring for silvers. Fishing on the line, your only out 8 to 15 pulls since fish are close to the surface and boat traffic is terrible.

Season is almost here and it's going to be fun.

good luck,

Gregg

[ 07-27-2001: Message edited by: hookset ]

rags · 07-27-2001, 04:12 PM

Thank you all for the great information. I'm sure several new boaters to the Astoria show benefited from your expertise. Not only will we get dialed in quicker to catch fish we will do it safer. Thanks again and see you down there. (Teal color Super Vee)

Thumper · 07-27-2001, 04:42 PM

John --- Don't die..........I barely knew ya'!

fishbait · 07-27-2001, 11:28 PM

My 0.02 worth. I don't fish anywhere around bouy 10. Not worth the trouble. People, big water, low margin for error and idiots..... Just remember, boats go dwon out here every year. Have good working equpement. Try the sawdust pile about half way into the flood for silvers, can be red hot. If you want chinook, then head tot he bridge, WA side. Pay attention to the tides and wind. The water just outside of the hammond ramp can get pretty bad at times. Get a good chart, learn the water and remember it's only a couple of lousy fish, you will have another chance at them up the river....Good luck.

ssteelheadsteve · 07-28-2001, 12:30 AM

My advice ?
Let the most experienced person run the boat.Maybe NOT the wife.
Stay away if your boat is steered with a wheel WHILE FISHING.
Stay a long way off from people stupid enough to bring a "wheel boat" to Buoy 10.
Make sure your "tiller Kicker" is big enough to do the job.
Don't plan on mooching for long.
Don't EVER not be under command of your vessel.Landing a fish is NOT a reason to not have conrtol of your boat.SOME TIMES IT HAPPENS.DON'T MAKE IT A HABBIT
Steer to the right of an on comming vessel.You will be stunned by the number of people who cannot grasp this concept.
GET a Fuel filter.Not the little inline *** that is in or just before your carb.Get a canister system of some kind.
Fill your batteries.Do not use well water or other water which may contain minerals.Bull Run or distilled water only.
Change your fuel filter.
If you do not have a fuel filter on your boat YOU are stupid.WATER WILL GET IN YOUR GAS.Period. As my sweet DI liked to say.REMEMBER we are all there for a good time.Drink & Boat ? You will get busted. Plan on it.
GET OFF THE RAMP !
Get away from me because I am catching fish. I am sure there are fish under your boat too.
REMEMBER : WE ARE ALL THERE FOR A GOOD TIME.

[ 07-28-2001: Message edited by: ssteelheadsteve ]