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
(3/27/2019) and slightly higher in the major creeks. Water temperatures in
the lake have fluctuated over a 10 degree range frequently for the last
several weeks. The lake level was about 6 inches above the top of the dam.
The water was light brown and moderately 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. A few crappie were
still on drop-offs and in channels in the main lake, especially near wood
cover, but many have been 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, but some have entered the creeks, 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, Hugh Kent had 24 crappie, 1 yellow perch, 2
pickerel (1 a length citation), and 2 bass. Hudson Reese and Bobby Hall had
35 crappie and 3 bass. Tom Porter had 1 bluegill and 11 crappie.
