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 60’s in the lower lake and the low 60’s in
the upper lake on Wednesday (4/29/2020), with high 60’s on downwind
shorelines and creeks in sunny spots by afternoon. The lake level was about
1 to 2 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. Some crappie were in creeks or on main
lake flats near creek mouths, usually on or near wood cover or lily pad
roots, while other crappie were in the main lake on channel edge brush
piles. Some crappie were still spawning around cypress trees and lily pad
roots, but most had left. Active crappie were hitting live minnows, Wright
Bait Co. and Southern Pro curly tail jigs, small tubes, Kalin crappie
scrubs, and small swim baits. White and yellow perch were scattered or in
loose aggregates on flats and drop-offs in the main lake and creeks and when
active were hitting small live minnows, swim baits, and jigs. Some
bluegill, fliers, and shellcracker were in creeks and holding around lily
pads and other vegetation, but others had apparently moved back out of the
creeks in response to cold fronts. When active, bluegill and shellcracker
were hitting live worms and Nikko nymphs, flies, and small swimbaits fished
on drop shot rigs. Pickerel and bass were located around cypress trees, on
flats, along shorelines, and in creeks, especially 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.