Wv Mike,
My bother and sister-in-law live in Parkersburg and my family is from the Fayette County Wv area. I was last there in 2019 but no fishing. I’ve seen some nice fish photos from the area and now that I’m retired and will visit in the future maybe I can participate in the action there…

The buoy is technically in the river. Once you pass it you are in fact engaged in the bar crossing. There is a marked difference in the action of the water once you pass it or at least that’s my interpretation because it’s crazy water at that point.
See attached and maybe it will help.

https://www.chinookobserver.com/news/buoy-10-part-of-a-much-bigger-navigation-system/article_dcd0340b-6e17-5118-8782-d6fb26ac2e51.html

It is a misconception that one must cross the bar to get to buoy 10. That area is still in the Columbia river and yes, if you choose to fish the ocean you must cross the bar.
There’s some great fishing east of buoy 10 and as long as you understand your boat, capabilities and respect the water you’ll do fine.
There’s several places to launch in both Oregon and Washington that puts you in the area to fish from Tongue Point to Buoy 10.
Here is one I got at the famous buoy on the 19th.

I’m usually not a person that post things so this stuff is new to me.
I’m recently retired and like to fish. Some of my local fishing would include the Willamette and Columbia rivers for spring chinook along with ocean fishing, Tillamook Bay and the Buoy 10 area for fall chinook and coho and the occasional crabbing and the occasional bottom fishing trip.
My fishing partners include my wife, son, daughter in law and grandson. My grandson (#6 of 8) has been on my boat in all the places listed above since he was 4 months old. His first time in the ocean he was 10 months old, he’s 9 now and I tell ya, he loves to be on the water and fishing…
Hope to learn some new things form others experiences on this forum which is my motivation for joining.