The Super Bowl of Salmon

Brianna Bruce is the owner and guide behind Livin Life Adventures, based in Snohomish County, where she targets Kokanee, Steelhead, Sockeye, and a variety of other Pacific Northwest fisheries. Her path to becoming a professional guide wasn’t a straight line, it was shaped by family, passion, and a defining moment that turned a lifelong love of fishing into a meaningful career.

Featuring Mack’s Lure Pro Staffer Brianna Bruce

There are salmon fisheries, and then there is Buoy 10. At the mouth of the Columbia River, where freshwater meets the Pacific, the Buoy 10 fishery brings together big water, powerful currents, changing tides, abundant salmon and anglers constantly trying to stay one step ahead of the fish.

For Brianna Bruce, Buoy 10 is more than just a place to catch salmon. It is an experience one that can be intimidating to newcomers but quickly becomes addictive once you learn to read the water. “It’s big water, and big fish with lots going on all at once,” Brianna says

“But it’s beautiful and fun and quickly addicting.”

Where the River Funnels the Fish

One of the things that makes Buoy 10 so unique is its position at the mouth of the Columbia. Salmon migrating upriver have to pass through this area, creating an incredible concentration of fish and a constantly changing fishing environment.

“All of the fish going up the entire length of the Columbia River have to swim through the Buoy 10 area,” Brianna explains.

That means anglers aren't simply waiting for salmon to find their bait. They are constantly trying to determine where the fish will be, how the river is moving and where the next opportunity might develop.

The tides are a major part of that equation. So are river current, weather and the daily movements of the fish. Successful anglers learn to put all those pieces together and make decisions throughout the day.

“There’s a lot of fish pushing through and you’re playing the tides and river and weather and trying to decide where the best spot to intercept the fish is going to be that day,” she says. That can mean moving frequently rather than anchoring down and waiting for the fish to come to you. And while the strategy can be challenging, Brianna says there is something special about the atmosphere surrounding the fishery.

“This whole area is so fishing and water focused,” she says. “The whole vibe is different than anywhere else. Any fisherman would probably walk into Buoy 10 and feel pretty welcomed and at home.”

A Season Full of Salmon

This season has given anglers plenty to be excited about.According to Brianna, the fishing has been fantastic, with some impressive Chinook showing up alongside large numbers of coho. “We’ve had some really big Chinook around, but also a lot of just a little too small ones,” she says.

Meanwhile, coho have been making their presence known with each incoming tide. That combination of fish, tides and changing conditions is part of what makes Buoy 10 so exciting. You never quite know what the next rod to go off might bring.

Let the Gear Tell You What to Do

When it comes to fishing Buoy 10, Brianna has one important piece of advice: don't get too obsessed with maintaining a particular trolling speed. That may sound counterintuitive, but the currents in the Columbia are constantly changing. A speed that works perfectly in one stretch of water may not produce the same action a few minutes later.

“One of the biggest things I see people doing is trying to keep to a certain speed or not watching how their gear is working,” she says.

Her solution is simple: watch the rods. “When fishing flashers you want to watch the thump of your rods and not your speed. Let your gear tell you how fast or slow to go.”

It is a lesson that gets to the heart of Buoy 10 fishing. Rather than relying on one number on the fish finder or trolling motor, anglers need to pay attention to what their gear is doing in the water.

Flashers, Bait and Lead

While Buoy 10 offers plenty of options when it comes to presentations, much of the fishery revolves around trolling. Brianna typically fishes with 360-degree or triangle flashers, followed by a variety of offerings, including bait, stuffer baits, spinners and spin baits.

One setup in particular has been producing for her this season: ScentFlash Uv Triangle Flasher.

“We’ve been running the triangle flashers on the bow rods and putting our stuffer bait tuna in them with great success.”

Another difference for anglers accustomed to other salmon fisheries is what Brianna leaves at home. “We leave the Downriggers at home and use lead cannonballs on sliders with line counter reels.” The combination keeps the presentation adaptable while allowing anglers to work with the constantly shifting currents.

Don't Ignore the Current

ChartTides are obviously important at Buoy 10, but Brianna believes anglers can gain an even better understanding of what's happening beneath the surface by paying close attention to current charts.

“Tides play a huge factor in the Buoy 10 fishery and the spots you pick to fish that day,” she says. But the current chart adds another valuable piece of information. “It will tell you what way the water is flowing and how fast, which makes it easier to decide when to move or where to be.”

For anglers learning the fishery, that information can help turn what initially looks like a giant expanse of water into something much more manageable. Instead of simply asking where the fish are, you can begin asking a more useful question: Where will the fish be when the current, tide and conditions put them there?

Success Is More Than a Fish in the Boat

It would be easy to measure a Buoy 10 trip strictly by the number of salmon caught. Brianna doesn't. There is plenty to appreciate even when the fish aren't cooperating.“There’s so much to enjoy down here besides catching fish,” she says. “There’s beautiful scenery, tons of wildlife and you generally stay pretty busy running gear.”

For her, a good day on the water is also about the people in the boat.

“I always say sitting in the boat is better than sitting on the couch!”

If everyone gets along and has a good time, she considers the trip successful whether or not the fish cooperate. That attitude may be particularly valuable at Buoy 10, where conditions can change quickly and even experienced anglers can have tough days.

Protecting the Fishery

With such a remarkable salmon resource passing through the Columbia, conservation is an important part of the Buoy 10 conversation. Brianna encourages anglers to support salmon and steelhead conservation and habitat efforts.

She also points to an issue that has a very direct impact on anglers fishing the mouth of the Columbia: pinnipeds, including seals and sea lions.

“Seals and sea lions have a huge impact and often steal fish right off our lines,” she says.

The Sandwich That Started a Tradition

Like any good fishing destination, Buoy 10 has its share of stories and Brianna's favorite involves a sandwich, a salmon and a hungry dog.

A few years ago, she was fishing with friends Lacey, Rocio and Courtney aboard Lacey's boat. At one point, Rocio was getting ready to eat a sandwich when her rod suddenly went off. Naturally, the sandwich had to wait. “She put her sandwich back in her lunch box to reel in her fish,” Brianna recalls.

The decision paid off. Rocio hooked a nice fish. But when she returned to her seat and prepared to resume her lunch, she discovered that someone or rather, somedog had gotten there first.

Brianna's dog, Waylon, had broken into Rocio's lunchbox and eaten the sandwich. The story has since become part of their Buoy 10 lore.

“Now anytime Rocio fishes with Waylon she makes him his own sandwich,” Brianna says with a laugh.

It's a fitting memory for a fishery where serious fishing and good times seem to go hand in hand.

Don't Let Buoy 10 Intimidate You

For first-time anglers, the sheer size and activity of Buoy 10 can be overwhelming. Big water, strong currents, boat traffic, tides, changing weather and constantly moving fish can make the fishery seem like a lot to take on.

But Brianna believes the payoff is worth it. Her advice to anyone considering their first trip is simple: “It may seem intimidating but the beauty and the fish make it well worth the trip.”

That's perhaps the best way to understand Buoy 10. It isn't just about finding salmon. It's about learning to read a massive, living river system, watching your rods and gear, making adjustments as the current changes, and sharing a day on the water with people who enjoy being there as much as you do.

And once you experience it, you may understand why so many anglers keep coming back. After all, at Buoy 10, the fishery isn't just another stop on the salmon calendar.

It's the Super Bowl of Salmon.