Art Conway (804-514-1486) out of Ed Allen’s Boats and Bait reported that
Chickahominy Lake mid-day surface water temperatures were in the upper
40’s in the central lower lake on Thursday (2/22/2024), a few degrees
lower up the lake, and a few degrees higher in the major creeks. The
lake level was about 2 inches above the top of the dam. The water was
light to medium brown, slightly cloudy at 1 foot, and quite murky at 3
feet.

We appear to still be in winter patterns overall, since the water has
been in the 40’s for most of the last month and a half, but has been
below and above that periodically.

A few small blue cats, channel cats, and bullheads have been scattered
on flats, along drop-offs, and in channels in the main lake, and when
active have been hitting live minnows and cut bait. Most crappies have
been in deeper areas in channels, some on the bottom and some suspended.
Crappies have been relatively inactive, but when active have been
hitting live minnows, Gulp minnows and Gulp Fry, and occasionally
hitting tubes, curly tail grubs, small swim baits, and wet flies. Most
larger crappies up the lake appeared to have left winter areas and
should start appearing in creeks during the next few weeks if the
weather holds. White perch and a few yellow perch have been scattered
or in loose aggregates on deep flats, channel edges, and in channels in
the main lake, and when active have been hitting small baits including
live minnows, Gulp minnows and Fry, and swim baits. Small bluegills
have been in channels and have usually been inactive, but occasionally
hitting small Gulp baits on dropshot rigs. Some pickerel and largemouth
bass have been on flats and on channel edges in the main lake, and a few
are starting to show up in major creeks. When active, bass and pickerel
have been hitting live minnows, spinnerbaits, swim baits, stick worms,
crank baits, and jerk baits.

Fishing with Art Conway, Tom Porter had 6 crappies and 1 largemouth
bass.