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 low to mid 40’s in the lower main lake and a little
lower in the major creeks on Wednesday (12/21/2016) after being in the high
30’s in the main lake with some ice in the creeks last Saturday. The lake
level was about even with the top of the dam. The water was light to medium
brown and slightly to moderately cloudy in the central lower lake, with more
murky water on downwind shorelines and in some creeks.

Fish activity dropped severely with the rapidly dropping water temperatures
late last week followed by the rise early this week, but should get back to
normal winter patterns if water temperatures stabilize.

Before the recent temperature fluctuations, most blue cats and bullheads
were on flats and channels in the main lake and scattered in creeks and
hitting live minnows and cut bait. Most crappie were along drop-offs and in
channels in the main lake, especially near wood cover. Active crappie were
hitting live minnows, Wright Bait Co. and Southern Pro curlytail jigs, small
tubes, Kalin crappie scrubs, and small swim baits. Small to medium yellow
perch and white perch were scattered or in loose aggregates on some main
lake flats and channels and were hitting live minnows, small swim baits, and
small jigs. Most bluegill and shellcracker were along channel edges in the
main lake and were occasionally hitting small jigs, Nikko nymphs on drop
shot rigs, small swim baits, and live worms. Most bass, pickerel, and
bowfin were on flats, along drop-offs, or in channels in the major creeks
and the main lake. When active, bass and pickerel were hitting live
minnows, spinnerbaits, swim baits, stick worms, crank baits, jerk baits, and
jigs.