Catawba Fishing Brief - 2026-07-23
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. 7/23 is a GO, run-anywhere day - the flat one the week has been building toward. Buoy 45005 at 12:40 PM reads a MEASURED 0.4 m (~1 ft) on a light E wind of 9.7 kt (wave sensor back online after days dark), barometer rising as high pressure builds in. No Small Craft Advisory, no hazard banner on the Ottawa County point forecast, empty active-alerts API, no fog, and the morning's slight early-waterspout chance has cleared. Run everything: the 6 nm WNW push to Niagara/Round, the 9 nm stretch to Toussaint, and the in-line boards. Water steady at 75.7F. INTEL: the deep-summer scatter is loosening - walleye are working back west into the Catawba / Green Island / Niagara corridor on the deep-water program (worm harnesses, spoons, crankbaits, tube traps, 18-23in fish, best early and late), and Port Clinton perch is being called the best in 15 years, limits of 210 for six the new normal in 16-24 FOW on the reefs north of Catawba. Lead with the troll to find the returning walleye, keep a perch spreader ready. One bite note: a bright rising-barometer high makes midday walleye sluggish, so fish the low-light windows and lean on the perch.
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. START HERE. This week it's perch central plus returning walleye: the best-in-15-years perch bite is happening right here in 16-24 FOW, so drop a spreader with shiners on any school you mark. For walleye troll the 14-22 ft perimeter at 1.4-1.6 mph to find pods, jig back through with a 3/8 oz hair jig. On the bluebird high the walleye bite is a low-light game - if it's slow midday, sit on the perch.
Fishing

Niagara Reef (buoy 5)
VERIFIED. Lighted buoy 5 marks the reef. ~6 nm WNW of launch. Best structure in range and right in the west-moving walleye corridor. NO GATE today - a measured 1 ft on a light E wind makes the run routine. Troll 18-22 ft edges at 1.4-1.7 mph, jig rocky outskirts 10-16 FOW. THE day and place to put the in-line boards out: open water, room to spread, no chop. Start with ONE board, dial the release tension, add the second once it feels routine.
Fishing

Round Reef
VERIFIED (Coe Vanna). Named in lakeeriefish for jigging, 10-16 FOW. ~5 nm WNW of launch, right next to Niagara. Fish the two as a single complex on one trip out. Straightforward run on the flat lake.
Fishing

Toussaint Reef
VERIFIED. Named in lakeeriefish for jigging the rocky outskirts. ~9 nm W of launch. THE FLAT-DAY STRETCH, and today is the day for it - sees a fraction of Niagara's pressure and holds both perch and the west-moving walleye. Nine miles is still a real commitment on a PWC: watch fuel, hit REFRESH before committing, turn back if the E wind climbs. Snap-jig or vertical-jig 10-16 FOW, or troll the outside edges at 1.4 mph.

Marblehead Current
APPROXIMATE. Just E of Marblehead Lighthouse in the current break. TODAY'S EAST OPTION, and a smart one on a bluebird high: moving water concentrates the active walleye when a bright rising barometer makes them lazy elsewhere. Shelter is irrelevant (flat everywhere), so this is a fishing pick, not a fallback. High-current walleye zone named in lakeeriefish. Reef Runner / Husky Jerk 18-28 FOW @ 1.3-1.5 mph, bottom third. Verify exact current break with fish finder. Quick bail to Catawba or Port Clinton.

Crib Reef (buoy 7)
VERIFIED. Buoy 7 marks it. ~10 nm NE of launch. Less crowded than Niagara but the longest haul on the list. On today's flat lake it's a fine alternative to Toussaint if you'd rather run NE than west. Watch fuel on the 10 nm run.