Catawba Fishing Brief - 2026-07-08
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. 7/8 is a clean GO day: wind light and variable (buoy 1.9 kt), waves 1 ft or less today, tonight, and Thursday, sunny, high 84, no advisories. The one caveat is patchy dense fog early - let it burn off before running far. Run-anywhere: use the flat water to reach the WNW reefs (Niagara/Round) that a NE wind usually walls off. Water 76.1F, deep summer scatter - troll to find pods, jig what you mark.
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 76.1F troll the perimeter to find scattered pods, jig back through them. Closest reef and the best shakeout stop off the ramp.
Fishing

Niagara Reef (buoy 5)
VERIFIED. Lighted buoy 5 marks the reef. ~6 nm WNW of launch. Best structure in range - today's flat water (1 ft or less) makes the open run easy. Take the glass day and go once the morning fog lifts. 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 today's flat water.
Fishing

Marblehead Current
APPROXIMATE. Just E of Marblehead Lighthouse in current break. High-current walleye zone named in lakeeriefish. A good midday troll on the way home. Reef Runner / Husky Jerk 18-28 FOW @ 1.5 mph, bottom third. Verify exact current break with fish finder.

Toussaint Reef
VERIFIED. Named in lakeeriefish for jigging. ~9 nm W of launch. A long open-water haul - fishable on a flat day like today if you want to explore.

Crib Reef (buoy 7)
VERIFIED. Buoy 7 marks it. ~10 nm NE of launch. Less crowded than Niagara. The longest haul on the list, but with the lake glass it's a reachable option today.