Anyone have Astoria Advice?

Hey Everyone,

 I was hoping to get information on first time going to Astoria. Is there a specific place that you guys launch your kayak from? I keep seeing Astoria kayak fishing videos on youtube, and I am dying to learn how one goes about getting out there for the first time.

Thanks!!!!!

There are a few recent posts about Astoria. Here is one that explains where to launch on the Washington side. http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=16076.0

I am not sure of your knowledge level of tides and currents so please don't take this condescending or anything other than advice from one who has learned from experience. The outgoing tide moves really fast and before you know it, you can be a long way from your launch and on your way to getting swept out across the bar.  One time, myself and others decided to just head for shore and wait for the tide to slacken because we were moving so quickly toward the bar and the wind was blowing in against it which really stood up the waves.

The incoming tides also move quite quickly, so either way, if you do not plan correctly you can get a heck of a workout. The last time I fished there, the incoming was moving at about 3 mph when I hooked up near our landing location. By the time I landed the fish and tagged it, I was a half mile up upstream from the launch and had to battle the current back. At that point, I was happy I had a narrow, pedal driven yak (Revo) and not my Outback.

Make sure you consult your tide charts and also the current regulations. Some times they regs change, and also there are some great areas that are now closed. As for launches, look to where you see boats fishing and find a legal place (ie no trespassing) you can hump your kayak down.

Check the wind forecast along with the tides. If it gets hairy, leash yourself to your kayak.

Awesome, Merz...thanks for the thread, that was very helpful.

Craig, that was perfect advice. I would never take that as condescending, very helpful information.

Bass 2, thanks for that tip!

I agree with Craig. 

To use the analogy of the ski slope difficulty rating system, I would put the area from Tounge Point to the Columbia River Bar as at least a black diamond, maybe double.  This area is not for beginners in the kayak fishing realm.  Several years of fishing this spot from a power boat or heading out under the wing of someone who has fished it for at least a couple years is a good way to get into it.  If you want a fantastic beginner spot for salmon, check out the Nehalem Bay at Wheeler. 

Also, I personally do not recommend being tied off to your kayak.

Also, I personally do not recommend being tied off to your kayak.

I second that just make sure your fishing partner can out paddle or peddle the wind. 
Ps. Don't fish alone if you haven't been fishing tidal and current areas for a year or so, just my opinion and philosophy.

Okay very cool, Thanks guys!

Rawkfish, thanks for the analogy and the point to Nehalem Bay, I'll definitely be doing some research for that now.

Mojo, very great points thank you!

 I'm just so pumped on getting out there and going, but I definitely need to step back and work the beginner spots and hone in on the kayak skills.

Welcome FishThatWontQuit!  I'm glad you asked the question as I'm sure that there are a lot of newly minted kayak fishermen and women out there who have the same idea in mind.  Hopefully they find this thread and take the advice seriously.

This is a fishery that scares seasoned powerboat captains.

Here's a quote from an article today by Bill Monroe:
"A cautionary note about Buoy 10 fishing: Multiple boats capsized in stiff south winds Saturday, both on the bar and in the bay. All five crew in a boat that flipped on the bar were rescued by Rob Gudgel, skipper of Katie Marie out of Pacific Salmon Charters in Ilwaco."

From USCG Sector Columbia River in an article about their efforts to reduce the number of deaths at the B10 fishery each year."
Since this project began fiver years ago, the number of deaths during the Buoy 10 Salmon fishery has decreased dramatically. In 2001, seven people died. In 2002 and 2003, the number was reduced to one each year. In 2004 there were no fatalities and only one in 2005. 2006 brought another year with no fatalities on the river."

What does this all mean to us kayak anglers? 

- Know your abilities
- Know the weather forecast
- Don't trust the weather forecast (thing change in minutes out there and your plans don't mean anything when the wind switches against you)
- Have an emergency plan
- Be prepared to paddle at full power for an hour or more if things go to hell.
- Bring your VHF

The first time you try this fishery, plan for a bluebird day with an incomming tide/light wind and stay close to your put in.  Once you graduate to covering territory, know your options in case the wind or tide catch you off guard. 

Oh yeah, and don't forget your rape whistle!  <That's for you Bill>
-Mark-

Thank you Spot!

 I am very thankful I stumbled on to this forum. I can already tell that there is an awesome community here that is looking after everyone else, and most importantly their safety. Everything you said there is awesome information, and it definitely shows how serious it can get out there. I am glad I asked the question, this way I can pencil in Astoria for a different year when I become more seasoned.

Awesome thread.  Craig, Rawfish and Spot are right on.  B10 is one of my favorite fisheries, but it has kicked my ass more times than I like to admit.
One thing that has not been touched on yet is that a lot of the time you are fishing in close proximity to power boats.   Most of the power boaters think we are crazy but are generally very friendly.  We need to do our part to keep it that way though.

Practice defensive kayaking, kayaks are very maneuverable, so try to adjust to the boats so they don't have to adjust to you.

Keep your head on a swivel and look around you before you turn, stop or drop back. 

Make sure the other boaters can see you, have a flag and try to wear bright colors.

And don't forget to smile and wave, especially when out fishing the boats around you. 

  FishThatWontQuit,

  So far you've been given some very wise advise. Pay attention and learn all you can.
  As far as waiting until next year......hmmmm..... there will be a lot of salmon coming up the Colombia for several more months. If you have some expirence with moving water... there are ways to take on the Big C without killing yourself.
  Fishing the tide is of utmost importance.
  There are some productive areas that -- while not really protected--- you can avoid a lot of PB traffic . And you don't have to go too far offshore. Like less than a couple hundred yards and still get fish.

 The Colombia River is not to be taken lightly. She demands respect. But there are ways to make it happen, safely, and the fishing is only going to get better for the next couple of months.
  Listen to the good advise given and try to get out there. It is a great place to fish.

I feel like this thread needs to be stickied or bookmarked or something so lots of people see it. 

To add to the statements that Spot put in his post, this one was from today before noon from the Coast Guard Station Cape Dissappointment:

Today Station Cape Disappointment ran eight search and rescue calls in rapidly deteriorating weather conditions. Two boats capsized sending six people into the water and multiple other vessels were sinking or disabled in dangerous situations. A special thanks to Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife for recovering a person in the water off Chinook, and the charter vessel Katy Marie who pulled five people from the water by Buoy 3 off Peacock Spit.

Most of that activity was near the bar, but still, it paints a good picture of how busy these guys are.

I have an 8' bow line which has a bungee in it. I use it to tie off on dock launches mainly but under certain circumstances where the likelihood of capsizing is high AND conditions may cause my kayak to drift much faster than me, AND I am not in a surf or white water scenario, I leash it to my PFD. I learned this from some hard core ocean kayakers. If you capsize and your kayak drifts away from you faster than you can swim, your probability of rescue and survival decreases dramatically. It's a personal choice and most probability wouldn't leash. Just something to think about.

Now that we've thoroughly scared the newbies...     Allow me to throw out a couple bones.

So let's say you've caught a few salmon off your kayak.  You've done the tango with a few dozen power boaters in a place like the Willamette for springers, or the Nehalem, or maybe even Tillamook.  You've felt what it's like to fight estuary currents all day and learned to self rescue without a hitch.  There are three spots I can think of right off the top of my head that are perfect for kayakers just getting into the area.  One of these spots is pretty far from the Columbia River bar but is still considered to be a part of the "Buoy 10 Fishery".  It is almost as far inland as the reach of the really salty water that comes in from the ocean. This place is no secret to power boaters and it has been mentioned on this site many times in the past few weeks.  The cool thing about this site, as well as the two others that come to mind, is that you can stay about a 1/2 mile from your launch to get into some serious fish.  And please, DO NOT go any farther than 1/2 a mile from your launch until you have visited these spots several times and you get a feel for what the currents are like. For your first year in this fishery, only go during the neap tides!! (If you don't know what "neap tides" are you've got a lot more homework to do.  )  You can stay well away from the massive crowd of power boaters, and hence, the washing machine that they cause and still get into plenty of fish. 

I encourage you to take a drive to Astoria, stop at places on both sides of both bridges, get out and look around.  See how fast the water is moving.  Ask some fishermen where the bite was that day.  Go into a local tackle store and ask about the fishery.  This is exactly how I found many of the fishing spots in the Northwest Oregon area I know of today.  I'll provide more specific details on Buoy 10 fishing at the salmon clinic on the 18th of this month!