CatchWindow fishing intelligence

St Helens, OR Daily Water Report — October 6, 2026

St Helens gets a strong go for sailing and shoreline time, with good-but-not-carefree conditions for fishing, boating and diving. The water forecast is flat at 0 m all day, no rain is indicated, and clear skies should make for a pleasant October outing. The catch is the wind: a representative NNW 10 knots is manageable for many plans, but gusts build sharply late, with the day’s strongest near 24 knots around 7 PM. That makes the early and middle portions of the day the sensible play. For anglers, the best overlap comes around the 8:59–10:59 AM major solunar period, close to the 9:42 AM low tide. Fishing rates 7.6/10, unchanged from yesterday, with a falling barometer near 1017 hPa and winds that are lighter before the evening push. A second major period runs 8:59–10:59 PM, but it arrives after sunset and alongside the gustier part of the forecast; it may suit prepared anglers, not casual last-light plans. Sailing is the standout at 9.1/10, its best score in the supplied recent run. Flat water, dry weather and usable wind favor a daytime sail, though the gust spread means reefing discipline and an early return deserve more respect than the blue sky might suggest. Boating scores 7.4/10 and diving 7.6/10, both supported by the zero-wave forecast; neither score is a safety clearance, and no water temperature or underwater-visibility reading is available. Kayaking is the more conditional choice at 5.7/10: flat water helps, but the NNW breeze and late gusts make an early paddle the better bargain. Wildlife carries the day’s highest score, 9.2/10, with the morning low tide and light-to-moderate daytime wind doing much of the work. The 3:00 PM high tide also lines up neatly with the 3:29–4:29 PM minor solunar period for shoreline explorers. Compared with recent days, sailing and wildlife improve notably, while fishing and diving hold steady; kayaking slips from yesterday as wind becomes less forgiving. Wednesday and Thursday stay dry and warm with flat-water forecasts but stronger peak winds near 13 knots. Friday turns cooler with a rain chance, while Saturday looks much lighter-wind but wetter. Best bet: launch early, use the morning low-tide window, and be off the water before the evening gusts start throwing their weight around.