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 to high 60’s in the lower main lake and low to mid 70’s in the major creeks on Wednesday (4/20/2016). The lake level was about even with the top of the dam. The water was light brown and very slightly cloudy in the central lower lake, with murky water in some creeks.

Most blue cats and bullheads were on flats in the main lake and scattered in creeks, and were hitting live minnows and cut bait. Crappie action was fluctuating, with scattered fish and loose aggregates in creek channels and in main lake feeding areas. Active crappie were hitting live minnows, Wright Bait Co. and Southern Pro curlytail jigs, small tubes, Kalin crappie scrubs, and small swim baits. Small to medium yellow perch were scattered or in loose aggregates on some main lake flats and in channels and on flats in major creeks and were hitting live minnows, small swim baits, and small jigs. Small to medium bluegill and shellcracker were starting to accumulate along some shorelines in major creeks and in the main lake and were hitting small swim baits, jigs, and flies. Some bass, pickerel, and bowfin were along shorelines, on lily pad flats, and along drop-offs in the main lake and major creeks. When active, bass and pickerel were hitting live minnows, spinnerbaits, swim baits, stick worms, crank baits, jerk baits, and jigs.

Fishing with Capt. Conway, Jim Fuller and Phil McLean had 1 bluegill, 13 crappie, and 11 yellow perch. Harry Heard, Dennis LeBlanc, and Kenny Chenshaw had 1 bluegill, 24 crappie, 3 yellow perch, 1 blue cat, 3 pickerel, and 1 bass.