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 mid 50’s in the lower main lake on Wednesday
(3/20/2019) and slightly higher in the major creeks. Temperatures had
dropped since Sunday, but will probably be fairly stable over the next
several days. The lake level was about 1 inch above the top of the dam.
The water was light brown and slightly cloudy in the central lake.
Some blue cats and bullheads were along drop-offs and in channels in the
main lake while others had dispersed onto flats and into creeks. When
active, cats were hitting live minnows and cut bait. Some crappie were
still on drop-offs and in channels in the main lake, especially near wood
cover, but many have begun moving into the major creeks and the upper end of
the lake, especially on sunny days. Activity has varied with water
temperature stability, with active crappie hitting live minnows, Wright Bait
Co. and Southern Pro curlytail jigs, small tubes, Kalin crappie scrubs,
blade baits, jerk 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, with some yellow perch moving into major creeks. When
active, both perch species were hitting live minnows, small swim baits, and
small jigs. Most bluegill and shellcracker were along drop-offs or in
channels in the main lake and when active were tentatively hitting live
worms, Nikko nymphs, and small swimbaits. Some bass and pickerel were along
shorelines in coves and in creeks on sunny days, while other bass and
pickerel were on deeper flats, along drop-offs, or in channels in the 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, Pam and Ed Ledzinski and Max and Tony Deluca had
14 crappie, 1 white perch, and 1 pickerel. Chantal Lauzon and Pierre
LaFrance had 8 crappie, 5 white perch, 1 blue cat, and 2 bass. Tom Porter
had 1 bluegill, 20 crappie, 2 pickerel, and 3 bass.
