Call or text Marvin at 503-314-5087 to book a guided Buoy 10 salmon fishing trip.
There are many effective ways to fish Buoy 10 for salmon. In this article, I am going to explain how I rig my rods and what has worked well for Marvin’s Guide Service after more than 27 years of professional guiding experience.
Other experienced anglers and fishing guides may use different rods, flashers, leader lengths, lures, and trolling methods. There is rarely only one way to catch salmon. However, the setups described here have consistently produced Chinook and coho salmon for my clients near Astoria, Hammond, Warrenton, and the mouth of the Columbia River.
My current Buoy 10 trolling spread usually includes a combination of herring, Yakima Bait Spin-N-Fish, and Brad’s Super Bait. I run these presentations behind triangle flashers or X2 360 flashers, depending on the tide, depth, current, and how the salmon are responding that day.
For information about guided trips, current seasons, and booking availability, visit my main Buoy 10 salmon fishing guide and charter page.
Quick Buoy 10 Salmon Rigging Overview
Here is a quick overview of the equipment I normally use when trolling for salmon at Buoy 10:
- A 9- to 10-foot Talon salmon trolling rod
- A quality line-counter reel
- Approximately 50-pound braided main line
- Between 16 and 24 ounces of lead, depending on current and depth
- A triangle flasher with herring
- An X2 11-inch 360 flasher with a Spin-N-Fish or Brad’s Super Bait
- Heavy-duty flasher bumper lines
- Strong leaders and hooks appropriate for Chinook and coho salmon
This is only a starting point. Buoy 10 changes throughout the day, and successful anglers must adjust their depth, leader length, trolling direction, bait, lure color, and fishing location as conditions change.
Choosing a Buoy 10 Salmon Fishing Rod
The fishing rod is one of the most important parts of a Buoy 10 salmon trolling setup. The rod must be strong enough to handle heavy lead and a large flasher, but it should still load properly when a salmon grabs the bait or lure.
I currently use Talon salmon trolling rods aboard my guide boat.
I generally prefer a salmon rod between 9 and 10 feet long. That length helps spread the rods apart, keeps the fishing lines organized, and provides good leverage when fighting a large Chinook salmon.
The rod should have enough backbone to control a salmon in heavy current. It also needs a flexible tip that allows the rod to load before the angler takes it out of the rod holder.
At Buoy 10, I am often trolling with 16 to 24 ounces of lead, a flasher, a leader, and either bait or a lure. A light rod that is not designed for this style of trolling can be overloaded by the weight of the complete setup.
Using a Line-Counter Reel
A quality reel with a dependable drag is important when fishing for Chinook and coho salmon. I strongly prefer a reel with a line counter.
The line counter tells me exactly how much line is behind the boat. This makes it easier to repeat a productive setup on every rod.
For example, when one rod gets a bite with 35 feet of line out, I can adjust the other rods to a similar distance. Without a line counter, anglers often guess how much line they have out, and their presentations may be fishing at completely different depths.
A line counter is also useful when the bottom changes quickly. If the water becomes shallower, I can shorten the lines before the lead or fishing gear reaches the bottom.
Buoy 10 Braided Fishing Line
I currently spool my Buoy 10 line-counter reels with approximately 50-pound braided fishing line.
Braided line has a small diameter and very little stretch. That allows me to feel the lead, flasher, lure, and changes in the current. It also provides the strength needed to handle large Chinook salmon in the heavy current of the lower Columbia River.
There are many quality brands of braided line. The most important things are using dependable line, checking it regularly, and replacing any section that has become damaged or frayed.
Triangle Flashers and 360 Flashers
I use two primary styles of flashers at Buoy 10:
- Triangle-style inline flashers
- Large rotating 360 flashers
Both styles catch salmon. The best choice depends on what I am trolling and how the fish are responding.
I often use a triangle flasher when trolling herring. When fishing a Spin-N-Fish, Brad’s Super Bait, or another rotating lure, I frequently use an 11-inch 360 flasher.
Fishing X2 360 Flashers at Buoy 10
I currently use X2 Fishing 11-inch 360 flashers for many of my Buoy 10 salmon trolling setups.
A 360 flasher rotates through the water and creates flash and movement that can attract salmon toward the trailing lure. I use different flasher colors depending on water clarity, light conditions, depth, and what has been producing bites.
Behind the X2 360 flasher, I usually run one of the following:
- Yakima Bait Spin-N-Fish
- Brad’s Super Bait or Super Bait Cut Plug
- A salmon spinner
My leader from the 360 flasher to the lure is often around 24 inches. That is a starting point, not a rule that must be followed every day.
A shorter leader normally transfers more of the flasher’s movement to the lure. A longer leader can reduce that action. I will change the leader length when I want the lure to rotate faster, slower, or differently.
Fishing Yakima Bait Spin-N-Fish
The Yakima Bait Spin-N-Fish is one of the lures I use behind an X2 360 flasher.
The lure has a body that can be opened and filled with bait. As it rotates, it provides both action and a scent trail.
I may fill my Spin-N-Fish with:
- Tuna
- Chopped herring
- Anchovies
- My own secret tuna mixture
I want enough bait inside the lure to produce a strong scent trail, but I do not pack it so tightly that the lure cannot close correctly or rotate properly.
Before lowering the lure into the water, I place it beside the boat and make sure it is rotating correctly. A lure that is tangled, filled incorrectly, or not rotating properly is unlikely to fish effectively.
Fishing Brad’s Super Bait
I also use Brad’s Super Bait and Super Bait Cut Plugs at Buoy 10.
Like the Spin-N-Fish, Brad’s Super Bait can be opened and filled with bait or scent. This allows me to combine the action and color of the lure with the natural smell of tuna, herring, or anchovy.
My bait choices may include:
- Canned tuna
- Fresh or frozen herring pieces
- Chopped anchovies
- A mixture of tuna and other ingredients
- My personal secret tuna recipe
Some days one bait mixture produces more bites than another. I pay attention to which rods are getting bit and adjust the rest of the spread when a pattern begins to develop.
The same is true with lure colors. I normally begin the day with several different colors. Once the salmon show a preference, I may change more rods to similar colors or patterns.
How I Use Triangle Flashers and Herring
Triangle flashers remain an effective way to fish herring at Buoy 10. I use them alongside my X2 360 flasher setups so the salmon can choose between natural herring and bait-filled rotating lures.
Between my main line and triangle flasher, I use a heavy-duty bumper line. I use flasher bumpers and trolling components from Coldwater Strong.
An 18-inch bumper is a good starting point for my triangle flasher setup. The bumper helps keep the main line separated from the lead and flasher while providing strong connections throughout the rig.
From the triangle flasher to the herring, I commonly use a 40- or 50-pound leader approximately 40 inches long.
The exact leader length may change depending on the size of the herring, current speed, trolling speed, and action of the bait.
Make Sure Your Herring Is Spinning Correctly
A properly rigged herring should have a consistent roll in the water. Before sending it behind the boat, I always check its action beside the boat.
The bait should not spin so quickly that it looks unnatural. It also should not drag through the water without rolling.
Small changes to the hook placement, bend of the bait, or leader can completely change the action.
If a herring becomes damaged, washed out, or stops spinning correctly, replace it. Fishing damaged bait for another hour to save one herring can cost you an opportunity at a salmon.
How Much Lead Do I Use at Buoy 10?
The lower Columbia River has strong current, so heavy lead is often required. I generally use between 16 and 24 ounces while fishing Buoy 10.
The amount of lead depends on:
- Current speed
- Tide size
- Water depth
- Trolling direction
- Wind
- How much line is behind the boat
- The type of flasher and lure being used
The goal is not always to drag the lead across the bottom. I want the bait or lure fishing at the depth where the salmon are traveling.
Sometimes the salmon are close to the bottom. At other times, especially when baitfish are suspended, the salmon may be higher in the water column.
Use Your Electronics to Find the Salmon
Modern electronics are extremely helpful at Buoy 10. I use my Lowrance sonar, GPS, radar, and other marine electronics to monitor depth, structure, boat traffic, bait, and possible salmon marks.
The electronics help me determine whether the fish are running close to the bottom or suspended higher in the water.
Once I identify a productive depth, the line counters allow me to place each presentation in the same area.
Learn more about the electronics and fishing equipment aboard my 27-foot Alumaweld fishing guide boat.
Fishing the Incoming Tide at Buoy 10
I often like fishing the incoming tide at Buoy 10. The incoming tide brings cooler ocean water into the estuary and can bring baitfish and salmon farther into the Columbia River.
The strongest fishing may occur during different portions of the tide. Some days the bite is best during the incoming current. On other days, the most productive period may happen near the tide change or shortly after the tide turns.
I pay attention to where the salmon are moving instead of assuming every incoming tide will fish the same way.
Fishing the Outgoing Tide
A small outgoing tide can produce good salmon fishing. However, a large outgoing tide can create difficult conditions.
Wind blowing against a strong outgoing current can make the lower Columbia River rough. A large ebb tide may also carry weeds, grass, sticks, and other debris through the fishing area.
Debris can collect on the fishing line, flasher, hooks, and lure. When that happens, the gear may stop fishing correctly.
Always study the tides, wind, weather, and river conditions before heading out. The Columbia River estuary is big water, and conditions can change quickly.
Current tide predictions are available through NOAA Tides and Currents.
Adjusting the Trolling Spread
One of the biggest mistakes anglers make is leaving every rod exactly the same after the fishing conditions change.
During a Buoy 10 trip, I may adjust:
- The amount of line behind the boat
- The amount of lead
- The leader length
- The flasher color
- The lure color
- The bait mixture
- The trolling direction
- The fishing depth
When one rod begins producing bites, I look closely at everything about that setup. I want to know its depth, lure, flasher, bait, leader length, and location in the trolling spread.
One bite may be luck. Two or three bites on a similar setup can reveal a pattern.
Common Buoy 10 Rigging Mistakes
Several common mistakes can reduce your chances of catching a salmon:
- Fishing a lure that is not rotating properly
- Using damaged or washed-out herring
- Putting every rod at the same depth before locating fish
- Allowing weeds or debris to collect on the line
- Using a rod that cannot handle the lead and flasher
- Guessing how much line is out instead of using a line counter
- Failing to adjust after the tide or current changes
- Continuing to use an unproductive color or bait mixture
- Grabbing the rod before it has fully loaded with the fish
Always check your gear before lowering it. A minute spent checking the lure, hooks, bait, and leader can prevent hours of fishing with a presentation that is not working correctly.
Buoy 10 Fishing Safety
Buoy 10 is not a small or protected lake. It is part of the lower Columbia River estuary near the Pacific Ocean.
Tides, wind, fog, boat traffic, floating debris, and changing weather can create challenging conditions. The Columbia River Bar is also nearby and should only be crossed by boaters with the proper vessel, safety equipment, experience, and knowledge of current conditions.
Before leaving the dock, check:
- The weather forecast
- Wind direction and speed
- Tide exchanges
- Visibility and fog
- Current fishing regulations
- Required boating and safety equipment
If you are unfamiliar with the area, booking an experienced Buoy 10 fishing guide is a good way to learn the fishery, tides, trolling methods, and safe boating practices.
Check the Latest Buoy 10 Fishing Report
Fishing at Buoy 10 can change daily. Salmon may move to a different section of the estuary, and a lure or color that was excellent yesterday may not be the best choice today.
During the season, I publish updates based on what I am seeing aboard my own boat and information from other experienced local guides.
Read the Latest Buoy 10 Fishing Report
Book a Guided Buoy 10 Salmon Fishing Trip
Learning to properly rig and troll for Buoy 10 salmon takes time. A guided trip gives you the opportunity to fish with rods, reels, flashers, lures, bait, electronics, and gear that are already set up for the current conditions.
Marvin’s Guide Service provides guided Chinook and coho salmon trips near Astoria, Hammond, Warrenton, and the mouth of the Columbia River.
Trips are conducted aboard a large, covered, and heated 27-foot Alumaweld guide boat. Rods, reels, bait, tackle, and fishing equipment are provided.
Call or text Marvin at 503-314-5087.
Check Buoy 10 Fishing Trip Availability
You can also learn more about my Astoria Oregon fishing guide and charter trips and other Columbia River fishing opportunities.
A triangle flasher setup used for trolling herring for Chinook and coho salmon at Buoy 10.
A 360 flasher rigged with a salmon lure and ready to troll at Buoy 10.
Frequently Asked Questions About Buoy 10 Rigging
What rod is best for Buoy 10 salmon fishing?
I prefer a 9- to 10-foot salmon trolling rod with enough strength to handle heavy lead and a flasher. I currently use Talon salmon trolling rods aboard my guide boat.
Should I use a line-counter reel at Buoy 10?
Yes. A line-counter reel makes it easier to repeat productive fishing depths and keep multiple rods fishing in an organized spread.
How much lead should I use at Buoy 10?
I commonly use between 16 and 24 ounces. The exact amount depends on the tide, current, water depth, wind, trolling direction, and how much line is behind the boat.
What flashers work at Buoy 10?
Both triangle flashers and 360 flashers can catch salmon. I use triangle flashers with herring and X2 11-inch 360 flashers with Spin-N-Fish, Brad’s Super Bait, and other salmon lures.
What do you put inside a Spin-N-Fish or Brad’s Super Bait?
I may use tuna, chopped herring, anchovies, or my own secret tuna mixture. I change bait mixtures when the salmon show a preference for a particular scent.
How long should the leader be behind a 360 flasher?
I often begin with a leader around 24 inches long. I may shorten or lengthen it to change the action of the lure.
How long should the leader be behind a triangle flasher?
When trolling herring, I often begin with approximately 40 inches of 40- or 50-pound leader between the triangle flasher and the bait.
Is the incoming tide always best at Buoy 10?
The incoming tide can be very productive, but the strongest bite does not occur at exactly the same time every day. Salmon movement can change with wind, current, bait, water temperature, and tide size.
Where can I find current Buoy 10 fishing information?
Visit my Buoy 10 fishing report for current updates during the salmon season.
