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 low 40’s in the lower main lake on Wednesday
(1/30/2019). The ice was gone throughout the lake Wednesday, but may return
later this week. The lake level was about six inches above the top of the
dam. The water was light brown and very cloudy in the central lake,
probably due to heavy wave action.

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 has been varying with water 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.