Catawba Fishing Brief - 2026-07-19
Western Basin Lake Erie waypoints. Verified against Coe Vanna Charters + Natural Atlas. Mouse Island Reef is the structure ~0.94 nm N of the island itself. 7/19 is a CAUTION on the morning: the mid-morning buoy 45005 came in at the top of the range - NNE 13.6 kt gusting 15.5 and 3.0 ft on the open lake, right at the PWC red line, and NE is the wave-building quadrant for the shallow north reefs. No advisories, and the marine zone has it diminishing to under 10 kt and subsiding to 1 ft or less through the day, so this is a day that improves, not deteriorates. Start close and south-tucked (Mouse Island Reef south edge, Marblehead seam under the shore) while the NE breeze is up, then open up the WNW run to Niagara/Round once it settles midday. Wildfire smoke haze through early afternoon, no heat concern (high 81). Water 77.4F, full summer scatter - troll to find pods, jig what you mark. No storms until Monday night.
Reel Quest

Catawba Pt Assoc Launch
APPROXIMATE. Private community ramp at the tip of Catawba near Mouse Island. Verify exact location.
Launch

Mouse Island REEF
VERIFIED. Actual fishing reef, NOT the island. ~1.2 nm NNE of launch. Limestone shoal, 0.33 sq mi, least depth 9 ft. At 77.4F troll the perimeter to find scattered pods, jig back through them. Closest reef and today's best early pick - a short first run keeps you out of the roughest morning water while the NE breeze is up.
Fishing

Niagara Reef (buoy 5)
VERIFIED. Lighted buoy 5 marks the reef. ~6 nm WNW of launch. Best structure in range, and today it is in play - no storms and the wind is laying down, so this is the WNW run the NE weeks usually take away. Fish it midday once the north side settles under 10 kt. Troll 18-22 ft edges, jig rocky outskirts 12-16 FOW.
Fishing

Round Reef
VERIFIED (Coe Vanna). Named in lakeeriefish for jigging, 10-16 FOW. ~5 nm WNW of launch, part of the Niagara/Round reef complex. Fish it alongside Niagara on the midday run once the breeze lays down.
Fishing

Marblehead Current
APPROXIMATE. Just E of Marblehead Lighthouse in current break. High-current walleye zone named in lakeeriefish. Tucked under the south shore, so it fishes calm while the NE breeze is up early - a solid early pick. Reef Runner / Husky Jerk 18-28 FOW @ 1.5 mph, bottom third. Verify exact current break with fish finder. Quick bail to Catawba or Port Clinton.

Toussaint Reef
VERIFIED. Named in lakeeriefish for jigging. ~9 nm W of launch. A long open-water haul - fine today on a settling lake, but save it for after the NE breeze lays down midday.

Crib Reef (buoy 7)
VERIFIED. Buoy 7 marks it. ~10 nm NE of launch. Less crowded than Niagara. The longest haul on the list and it sits in the NE quadrant the morning breeze comes from - save it for midday once the lake settles.