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 50’s on Wednesday (2/22/2017). The lake level
was about even with the top of the dam. The water was light brown and
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. Many crappie
were along drop-offs and in channels in the main lake, especially near wood
cover, and a few crappie were in channels in the creeks, especially up the
lake. Many crappie were scattered rather than in large schools, and were on
flats adjacent to deeper water on sunny afternoons. Many crappie have been
inactive recently, 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 (some still egg-laden) and white
perch were scattered or in loose aggregates on some main lake flats and
channels and in some creek 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, suspending jerk baits, and jigs.

Fishing with Capt. Conway, Charlie Fasano had 7 crappie and 1 pickerel.
Brian and Noah Martin had 7 crappie, 1 white perch, 3 pickerel, and 1 bass.
Tom Porter had 20 crappie, 1 yellow perch, and 3 white perch.