In this article, I’m going to talk to you about how to fish Buoy 10 for salmon. There are many ways to rig up for Buoy 10 fishing. Let’s talk specifically about how I like to fish Buoy 10 and what works best for Marvin’s Guide Service. Bear in mind that many experienced anglers have their favorite methods, so this won’t be the only way. But the suggestions here have produced excellent results for Marvin’s clients over many years of salmon fishing at Buoy 10.
The Buoy 10 fishing rod
When fishing for salmon at Buoy 10, your fishing rod is a very important piece of equipment. Choosing the right rod can make a huge difference in your success. I like a 9- to 10-foot long, medium-action fishing rod. I’m currently using Tica’s HLHF Galant-Z Salmon rod. There are many manufacturers of excellent rods, including Berkley and Shimano, to name a few popular brands.
The Buoy 10 fishing reel!
The fishing reel is another essential piece of equipment for fishing Buoy 10. Any quality brand will do, but a reel with a line counter is ideal for this fishery. A line counter allows you to keep track of how much line you have out, which is important because you need to keep your lure or bait at the right depth.
The line!
When fishing Buoy 10, you’re going to want a braided fishing line. I currently have my line counter reel spooled with a 50-pound braid. There are many different manufacturers of braid lines, so just choose your favorite.
The rigging!
You have two different types of flashers to help attract salmon and increase bites, from the 360 flashers to the triangle. Let’s talk a little bit about using both.
Triangle Flasher
First, let’s talk about using the triangle flasher. I prefer a Shortbus-brand flasher. Coming off your main line. You’re going to want the leader to serve as a bumper line. I like an 18-inch bumper. I got these pre-tied from Coldwater Strong. They have a great video on rigging up Coldwater Strong bumpers; click here to watch that.
From my flasher to my herring, I like to use a 40- or 50-pound leader. My leader’s length to the herring is usually around 40 inches.
With the heavy currents in the lower Columbia River around Buoy 10, you’re going to need heavy lead. I generally use anywhere from 16 to 24 ounces. You want to keep your baits down low—not necessarily on the bottom, just down where the fish are. Use your electronics and figure out what depth the salmon are running. That’s where the line counter on your reel comes in handy.
360 Flashers
When I use a 360 flasher, I generally like to go to lures, whether it be a spinner, Brad Super Bait, or even a SpinFish. I will shorten my leader from the 360 flashers to the lure to around 24 inches.
Fishing the tides
When fishing Buoy 10, it’s best to fish the incoming tide, which brings cooler ocean water and more bait fish, which in turn attracts more salmon. The best time to fish is usually the first hour of the high tide or after the change of tide. Fishing at the change of the tide can be especially productive, as the cooler water and increased baitfish activity can stir up the salmon and make them more aggressive.
Fishing on a big outgoing tide is generally not a good idea. The water will get rough and usually, there will be lots of weeds and other debris during a strong ebb tide. Fishing a small outgoing tide is OK. Learn to read your tide tables.
If you are new to fishing in this area, you might think about hiring an experienced Buoy 10 fishing guide like Marvin’s Guide Service for your first trip out, just to be safe and understand the tides and all the different riggings.
Fishing reports for Buoy 10 are updated regularly. To get the latest information, click here.
This is a triangle flasher that I use for fishing for herring at Buoy 10. It’s a good way to attract salmon and increase bites.
This 360 flasher is rigged up with a spinner, and it’s ready for action at Buoy 10. Buoy 10 is a popular fishing spot, and the incoming tide is usually the best time to fish it.
Last Updated on by Marvin
