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 have fluctuated extensively over the last few weeks and were
back up in the mid 40’s in the lower main lake on Wednesday (12/28/2016).
The lake level was about even with the top of the dam. The water was light
to medium brown and slightly to moderately cloudy in the central lower lake,
with more murky water on downwind shorelines, in some creeks, and in some
areas of the upper lake.

Before the recent temperature fluctuations, most blue cats and bullheads
were on flats and channels in the main lake and scattered in creeks and
hitting live minnows and cut bait. Most crappie were along drop-offs and in
channels in the main lake, especially near wood cover. 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 and white perch were scattered or in loose aggregates on some main
lake flats and channels and were hitting live minnows, small swim baits, and
small jigs. Most bluegill and shellcracker were along channel edges in the
main lake and were occasionally hitting small jigs, Nikko nymphs on drop
shot rigs, small swim baits, and live worms. Most bass, pickerel, and
bowfin were on flats, along drop-offs, or in channels in the major creeks
and the main lake. When active, bass and pickerel were hitting live
minnows, spinnerbaits, swim baits, stick worms, crank baits, jerk baits, and
jigs.

Fishing with Capt. Conway, Tom Porter had 15 crappie, 3 pickerel, and 2
bass.