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 middle 50’s in the lower main lake on Wednesday
(4/3/2019) and slightly higher in the major creeks. Water temperatures
increased over the weekend, then dropped early this week, and have
fluctuated over a 10 degree range frequently for the last several weeks.
The lake level was about even with the top of the dam. The water was light
brown and slightly to moderately 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. Some crappie were in
moderate depths in the main lake, especially near wood cover, but many have
moved 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 on deeper flats 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, Jim Fuller and Phil McLean had 3 crappie, 1
yellow perch, and 2 bass. Tom Porter had 3 crappie and 1 yellow perch.