Crossing bar at Columbia river

[obiec]

dose any one have any advice for crossing the bar at the Columbia river between Oregon and Washington. It is supposed to be the second most dangerous bar in the world. I have been told to do it at High slack tide. how can you tell were the bar is, and do you just head at full throttle straight in to it, or ease your way through at say 3 knots. take it at about 30 degrees or strait on. any good advice I would sure appreciate, heck I kinda like listening to some of the bad advice also.

[RichardElliott]

As your message indicates, you must be extremely careful. High water slack occurs much later than tables indicate during May and June due to the spring freshet runoff. You might consider looking at the bar via a salmon fishing charter, which can be great fun byn itself. Current during an ebb can exceed 8K.