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 mid 70’s to low 80’s in the lower lake and up the
creeks on Wednesday. The lake level was about three feet above the top of
the dam over the weekend but had dropped about a foot by Wednesday. The
water was quite dark but was not cloudy or muddy in the lower lake. Some of
the creeks had some cloudy water in the middle and upper ends. Numerous
small and a few medium bluegill were scattered along parts of the lake
shoreline and up some of the creeks. Over the weekend they followed the
rising water and were in the flooded brush tight to the new shoreline, but
they have moved back out to the hydrilla mats as the water started to fall.
Larger bluegill, shellcrackers, white perch, blue cats, channel cats, and
crappie were primarily along the outer edges of flats, especially on wood
cover. Wright Bait Co. and Southern Pro one and two inch curly tail grubs,
tubes, small swim baits, roadrunners, Kalin crappie scrubs, worms, and live
minnows have been the most effective baits for bluegill, perch, and crappie.
Bass action appeared to be primarily up the creeks over the weekend.