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 high 80’s to low 90’s in the central lower lake on
Wednesday (7/29/2020). The lake level was about even with the top of the
dam and the water was medium brown and moderately cloudy in the central
lake, with more murky water near windy shorelines. A bloom of suspended
algae appeared to be present in much of the lower 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 were on deeper main lake
flats near creek mouths or on channel edge brush piles, but a few were on
deeper shorelines with wood cover. When 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. Moderate numbers of bluegill and shellcracker were along main lake
shorelines and in the lower areas of major creeks, in loose schools holding
around wood cover or vegetation. When active, bluegill and shellcracker
were hitting live worms and Nikko nymphs, flies, and small swimbaits.
Pickerel and bass were located around cypress trees, on flats, along
shorelines, and on channel edges, especially near the mouths of creeks.
When active, bass and pickerel were hitting live minnows, spinnerbaits, swim
baits, stick worms, crank baits, jerk baits, and jigs.

Fishing with Capt. Conway, Carolyn Conway had 12 bluegill. Brian Dementi
and Noah and Cassandra Gwizdala had 27 bluegill, 4 shellcracker, and 1
warmouth. Brian Dementi, Ben Harris, and Cole Pecram had 8 bluegill, 2
shellcracker, 1 white perch, 1 yellow perch, and 4 bass.