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 upper 60’s in the lower main lake on Wednesday
(4/10/2019) and higher in the major creeks. The lake level was about 3
inches above the top of the dam. The water was light brown and slightly
cloudy in the central lake, and much more cloudy along downwind shorelines.
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. Most crappie have
moved into the major creeks and the upper end of the lake, especially on
sunny days, and were located primarily on wood cover. Activity has
increased over the last week as water temperature stability has improved,
with active crappie hitting live minnows, Wright Bait Co. and Southern Pro
curlytail jigs, small tubes, Kalin crappie scrubs, 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 moving into major
creeks. When active, both perch species were hitting live minnows, small
swim baits, and small jigs. Many bluegill and shellcracker were on deeper
flats in the main lake, but some have entered the creeks, and when active
were 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 or along drop-offs 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, Grant Odell had 1 bluegill, 12 crappie, 3
pickerel, and 1 bass. Damon McMillion and Steve Hubbard had 11 crappie, 1
yellow perch, and 1 pickerel. Anne and Jeff Uhr had 9 crappie, 2 pickerel,
and 3 bass. Tom Porter had 1 bluegill, 26 crappie, 1 white perch, 1
pickerel, and 1 bass.
