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 70’s in the lower main lake and major creeks on
Wednesday (4/17/2019). The lake level was about 5 inches above the top of
the dam. The water was medium brown and clear in the central lake, and
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. Some crappie remained
in creeks, but many crappie had moved out of the major creeks and were
spawning on wood cover on flats in the main lake. Active crappie were
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 had entered the creeks, and when active were hitting live worms, Nikko
nymphs, and small swimbaits. Pickerel were along shorelines in coves and in
creeks on sunny days. Bass were a mix of post-spawn, spawning, and a few
pre-spawn fish, mostly in the major creeks and main lake coves. When
active, bass and pickerel were hitting live minnows, spinnerbaits, swim
baits, stick worms, crank baits, jerk baits, and jigs.

Fishing with Capt. Conway, Tricia Pearsall had 1 bluegill, 5 flier, 1
shellcracker, 19 crappie, 1 yellow perch, 1 white perch, and 1 pickerel.
Jerry Davis had 9 bluegill, 15 crappie, and 1 pickerel. Tom Porter had 4
bluegill, 27 crappie, 2 pickerel, and 1 bass.