Capt. Art Conway of Conway’s River Rat Guide Service (804-746-2475) out of Ed Allen’s Boats and Bait reported that Chickahominy Lake mid-day water temperatures were in the mid 40’s in the main lake on Monday (12/29/2014). The lake level was about 6 inches above the top of the dam. The water was light to medium brown and slightly cloudy in the central lower lake.

Blue cats were scattered throughout the lake, with many in deep channel areas. Most crappie were in the channels and winter holes in the main lake, and were frequently near schools of bait. Bait and crappie schools have moved frequently of late, and the activity levels of crappie schools have varied frequently. Active crappie were hitting live minnows, Wright Bait Co. curlytail jigs, small tubes, small swim baits, jigging spoons, and blade baits. Yellow perch were scattered on deeper hydrilla flats in the main lake and were hitting live minnows and small jigs. Larger bluegill were in the channels and channel edges and were hitting small Gulp baits on drop shot rigs and small blade baits. Some bass and pickerel were on outer edges of flats along drop-offs and were hitting suspending jerk baits and lipless crankbaits. Other bass and pickerel were under bait schools in the main lake channels and hitting live minnows, swim baits, and blade baits. A few striper were roaming the mid-depth and channel areas in the main lake and taking swim baits, blade baits, and jigs.