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 throughout most of the main lake on
Wednesday (3/10/2021), with warmer water in downwind bays and some areas in
the major creeks. The lake level was about 2 inches above the top of the
dam and current was much less obvious in the upper end of the lake than last
week. The water was light brown and clear to slightly cloudy in the central
lower lake, with cloudiness increasing farther up the lake.
Most blue cats and bullheads were along drop-offs and in channels in the
main lake. When active, cats were hitting live minnows and cut bait. Most
crappie were leaving deeper main lake flats, channel edges, and channels and
beginning to move into major creeks. Relatively small numbers of crappie
were in creeks over the past week, but sizes of fish were quite good as has
been typical of early fish in the creeks. Active fish in deeper areas were
hitting live minnows and small swim baits on jigs or drop shot rigs, while
long line trolling with tubes or curly tail jigs was effective in creeks.
White and yellow perch were scattered or in loose aggregates on deep flats
and channels in the main lake and in some shallows at the upper end of the
lake, and when active were hitting small live minnows, swim baits, and jigs.
Larger bluegill and shellcracker were in channels, frequently on wood cover,
and were still mostly inactive, but occasional active bluegill and
shellcracker were hitting live worms, Nikko nymphs, and small swimbaits.
Pickerel and bass were located along a few shorelines, especially near creek
mouths, and around cypress trees, on flats, and on channel edges. 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, Hugh Kent had 6 crappie (1 citation) and 2
pickerel. Tom Porter had 2 crappie, 1 white perch, 1 citation yellow perch,
and 1 pickerel.
