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 50’s in most areas in the lake on Wednesday
(3/25/2020). The lake level was about 5 inches above the top of the dam and
the water was medium brown and slightly cloudy in the central lake.

Many blue cats and bullheads were along drop-offs and in channels in the
main lake, but some were on flats and in creeks. When active, cats were
hitting live minnows and cut bait. Most crappie had left winter areas and
were moving into warmer water in the creeks and on flats near creek mouths,
but some were on wood cover along channel edges. Crappie in the creeks were
scattered, with many on or near wood cover or lily pad roots and others in
channels. Active crappie were hitting live minnows, Wright Bait Co. and
Southern Pro curly tail jigs, small tubes, Kalin crappie scrubs, and small
swim baits. Trolling with jigs and other lures was frequently more
effective than casting. White perch were scattered or in loose aggregates
on deep flats, drop-offs, and channels in the main lake and when active were
hitting small live minnows, swim baits, and jigs. Most bluegill, fliers,
and shellcracker were in channels and were inactive, but some were moving
into creeks. When occasionally active, bluegill and shellcracker were
hitting live worms and Nikko nymphs, flies, and small swimbaits fished on
drop shot rigs. Pickerel and bass were mostly located around cypress trees,
on deep flats, and in channels, but some were along shorelines and in creeks
on sunny days. When active, bass and pickerel were hitting live minnows,
spinnerbaits, swim baits, stick worms, crank baits, jerk baits, blade baits,
and jigs.