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 on Wednesday (1/18/2017). The lake level
Wednesday was a few inches above the top of the dam and had been stable for
a few days. The water was light brown and very slightly cloudy in the
central lower lake.

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, and many were scattered rather than in large schools. Many crappie
have been inactive, but activity has been slowly increasing, especially up
the lake. 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. Bass activity has
been sporadic, but has been increasing with more stable conditions. When
active, bass and pickerel were hitting live minnows, spinnerbaits, swim
baits, stick worms, crank baits, jerk baits, and jigs.