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 high 60’s to low 70’s in the main lake and mid 70’s
in the major creeks on Wednesday (4/12/2017). The lake level was about even
with the top of the dam. The water was light to medium brown and very
slightly cloudy in the central lower lake.

Spring patterns were back in force. Most blue cats and bullheads were on
flats and channels in the main lake and scattered in creeks, and were
hitting live minnows and cut bait. Most crappie were spawning, either on
vegetation or wood cover in the creeks or on wood cover (mostly cypress
roots) in the main lake. 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 in creeks and on shoreline flats in the main lake. When
located, they were hitting live minnows, small swim baits, and small jigs.
Bluegill and shellcracker were scattered or in small schools, with some
still on mid-depth flats in the main lake and some moving into the creeks.
Bluegill and shellcracker were hitting small jigs, Nikko nymphs, small swim
baits, and live worms. Most bass were on or near shorelines in major creeks
and some areas of the main lake. Many bass appeared to be on beds.
Pickerel were still in many creeks on shorelines or around wood cover. When
active, bass and pickerel were hitting live minnows, spinnerbaits, swim
baits, stick worms, crank baits, jerk baits, and jigs.

Fishing with Capt. Conway, Mike and Matt Coyle had 6 bluegill, 11 crappie, 1
yellow perch, and 7 pickerel. Shannon, Adam and Matthew Charles had 20
crappie, 1 pickerel and 3 bass. Tom Porter had 2 bluegill, 2 shellcracker,
1 flier, 28 crappie, 1 white perch, and 2 blue cats.