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 middle
50’s in the central lower lake on Wednesday (3/27/2024). The lake level
was about 12 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 due
to an apparent layer of suspended microscopic algae.

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
appear to be entering creeks, but may leave or become inactive in
response to cold fronts. The activity level and preferences of crappies
in the creeks have varied a lot over the past several weeks. Some days
they won’t touch minnows but will hit a tube jig suspended under a float
or a curly-tail grub on a jig. Other days they want nothing but
minnows. White perch have been scattered or in loose aggregates on deep
flats, channel edges, and in channels in the main lake and in creeks,
and when active have been hitting small baits including live minnows,
Gulp minnows and Fry, and swim baits. Increasing numbers of bluegills
and shellcrackers have entered the major creeks and are hitting wet
flies and small jigs. Some pickerel and largemouth bass have been on
flats and on channel edges in the main lake, and increasing numbers 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.

Catches have varied with weather, with many species becoming relatively
inactive after heavy rains or cold fronts, then gradually becoming more
active as weather moderated. Ron Floor had 2 largemouth bass. Kevin
Farley and Leif Mollo had 11 crappies, 1 yellow perch, and 2 largemouth
bass.