Capt. Art Conway of Conway’s River Rat Guide Service (804-514-1486) out of
Ed Allen’s Boats and Bait reported that Chickahominy Lake mid-day water
temperatures were in the high 30’s in the lower main lake on Tuesday
(1/22/2019), and lower in the major creeks. The lower lake was mostly open,
with some shore ice, but the major creeks were mostly frozen over. The
higher temperatures and rain Wednesday and Thursday should melt most of the
ice. The lake level was about five inches above the top of the dam. The
water was light brown and clear to very slightly cloudy in the central lake.

Blue cats and bullheads were along drop-offs and in channels in the main
lake and when active were hitting live minnows and cut bait. Most crappie
were on drop-offs and in channels in the main lake, especially near wood
cover. Activity dropped with the temperature, with the occasional active
crappie hitting live minnows, Wright Bait Co. and Southern Pro curlytail
jigs, small tubes, Kalin crappie scrubs, blade baits, and small swim baits.
Yellow and white perch were scattered or in loose aggregates on deep flats,
drop-offs, and channels in the main lake, and when active were hitting live
minnows, small swim baits, and small jigs. Most bluegill and shellcracker
were along drop-offs or in channels and when active were tentatively hitting
live worms, Nikko nymphs, and small swimbaits. Some bass and pickerel were
along shorelines on sunny days, but most were on deeper flats, along
drop-offs, or in channels in the main lake and occasionally in creeks. When
active, bass and pickerel were hitting live minnows, spinnerbaits, swim
baits, stick worms, crank baits, jerk baits, and jigs.