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 low
60’s in the central lower lake on Wednesday (4/10/2024) and a few
degrees higher in the major creeks. The lake level was about 8 inches
above the top of the dam and dropping. The water was medium brown,
slightly to moderately 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. A fair number of
crappies were back in the creeks, and could be caught by trolling in the
creek channels and by casting small jigs in traditional spawning areas.
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 occasionally in creeks, and when active
have been hitting small baits including live minnows, Gulp minnows and
Fry, and swim baits. A few yellow perch have been in the creeks and
hitting small curly tail jigs. Increasing numbers of bluegills and
shellcrackers are 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. Although bass beds are almost impossible to
see, casting topwater and very slow sinking baits tight to shoreline
vegetation has worked, suggesting some bass are bedding. When active
and deeper, 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. Robert Thomas and Bill Pearsall had 10
bluegills, 1 shellcracker, 1 crappie, 2 yellow perch, 1 pickerel, and 3
largemouth bass on fly rods. Tricia Pearsall had 1 bluegill, 1
shellcracker, 1 yellow perch, 3 pickerel, and 1 largemouth bass. Dean
Hindman had 10 bluegills, 1 shellcracker, 10 crappies, 3 yellow perch,
and 1 largemouth bass.