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 surface
water temperatures were in the low 70’s in the lower lake on Wednesday
(5/25/2022). The lake level was about 3 inches above the top of the dam.
The surface water was light to medium brown and clear in the central lower
lake, with more cloudy water deeper, on windy shorelines, and in some
creeks.
A few small blue cats and bullheads were scattered on flats, along
drop-offs, and in channels in the main lake, and when active were hitting
live minnows and cut bait. Most crappie were near channel edge brush piles
in the main lake and were slightly to moderately active. A few crappie were
in creek channels and were moderately active. Active crappie were hitting
live minnows, tubes, curly tail grubs, and small swim baits. White perch
were scattered or in loose aggregates on deep flats and channel edges in the
main lake, and when active were hitting small live minnows, swim baits, and
jigs. Some bluegill and shellcracker were on deep flats and channel edges
near brush piles in the main lake, but were not very active. Other bluegill
and shellcracker were in loose clusters on shorelines or near-shoreline
flats in the main lake and in the major creeks and were active, but were
somewhat difficult to fish for in many creeks due to numerous clumps of
filamentous algae. Active bluegill were hitting live worms and crickets,
Nikko nymphs, Wright Bait Co. 1-inch curly tail grubs, and flies. Pickerel
and bass were in creeks and around cypress trees, on deeper flats, and in
channels in the main lake. When active, bass and pickerel were hitting live
minnows, spinnerbaits, swim baits, stick worms, crank baits, and jerk baits.
Fishing with Capt. Conway, Ethan Lindbloom and Kerry Hutcherson had 36
bluegill, 2 shellcrackers, 1 bluegill-shellcracker hybrid, 1 crappie, and 2
largemouth bass. Tom Porter had 36 bluegill, 1 shellcracker, 4 crappie, 1
yellow perch, 1 pickerel, 1 striped bass, and 2 largemouth bass.
