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 60’s in the lower lake and in the major
creeks on Wednesday. The lake level was down to six inches above the top of
the dam. The water was dark but not cloudy or muddy in the lower lake. A
few small and a few medium bluegill were still widely scattered along parts
of the lake shoreline and up some of the creeks. Many of the bluegill were
holding out from the shoreline. Larger bluegill, shellcrackers, blue cats,
channel cats, pickerel, and crappie were scattered over the deeper flats and
along the outer edges of the flats, especially on wood cover. A few crappie
were starting to show up in the deeper channels and winter holes. 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 and crappie. Small to medium
bass were widely scattered around much of the lake, especially in deeper
areas up some of the creeks. Crankbaits have been effective for bass.