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 main lake water temperatures were in the mid 40’s in the lower lake and major creeks on Wednesday (2/13/2013). The lake level was a little less than a foot above the top of the dam. The water was brown and very slightly cloudy in the lower lake.

A few bowfin and blue cats were in deeper channels and deep winter holes (about 18-25 foot depths) in the lower main lake and were hitting blade baits and live minnows. A few crappies were still in a few of the winter holes, usually near bait schools, and were hitting blade baits and live minnows. Most crappies and white perch appeared to have left the winter holes but had not yet made an appearance in the major creeks. Look for them to start showing up in the creeks during the next week or two. Bass and pickerel were scattered on mid-depth and deep flats in the main lake and were hitting live minnows, blade baits, and lipless crankbaits. A moderate number of small to medium bass and small yellow perch were in the major creeks and were hitting live minnows and small suspending jerkbaits.