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 lower 50’s in most areas in the lake on Sunday
(3/8/2020), with slightly higher water temperatures in some creeks. The
lake level was about an inch 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. When active, cats were hitting live
minnows and cut bait. Most crappie had left winter areas and some were
starting to move into warmer water in the creeks and on flats near creek
mouths, but some were along channel edges. Crappie in the creeks were
generally scattered, with many on or near wood cover or lily pad roots.
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 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. 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.
Fishing with Capt. Conway, Pam and Ed Ledzinski had 13 crappie, 1 white
perch, 2 blue cats, and 2 bass. Bill Edwards and Lawrence Barden had 11
crappie and 18 white perch.