Capt. Art Conway of Conway’s River Rat Guide Service (804-746-2475) out of Ed Allen’s Boats and Bait reported that Chickahominy Lake mid-day water temperatures were in the low to mid 50’s in the main lake on Wednesday (11/12/2014). The lake level was a few inches below the top of the dam. The water was light brown and relatively clear in the central lower lake.

Blue cats were scattered throughout the lake, with many in deep channel areas. Most of the crappie had moved to the channels and winter holes in the main lake, and were frequently near schools of bait. Active crappie were hitting live minnows, Wright Bait Co. curlytail jigs, small tubes, jigging spoons, and blade baits. Yellow perch were scattered on shorelines and hydrilla flats in the main lake and up some creeks and were hitting live minnows and small jigs. A few mid-sized bluegill and shellcracker were widely scattered along main lake shorelines or on adjacent hydrilla flats, and the larger bluegill were in the channels. Bluegill and shellcracker along shorelines were hitting small tubes, small spoons, brightly colored Trout Magnets, and 1 inch dark Wright Bait Co. curlytail jigs. Bluegill in the channels were hitting small Gulp baits on drop shot rigs and small blade baits. Some bass were shallow in the main lake and around creek mouths, but many bass were under bait schools in the channels and hitting live minnows, swim baits, and blade baits. Pickerel were scattered in the creeks and main lake and hitting stick worms, crank baits, spinnerbaits and live minnows. A few striper were roaming the mid-depth and channel areas in the lake and taking swim baits, blade baits, and jigs.

Fishing with Capt. Conway, Tom Porter had 2 bluegill, 33 crappie, 1 white perch, 2 blue cats, and 3 bass.