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 80’s in the main lake and in the major creeks
on Wednesday (8/23/2017). The lake level was a few inches above 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 along drop-offs in the main
lake and scattered in creeks, and were hitting live minnows and cut bait.
Most crappie were on mid-depth flats and drop-offs, frequently near wood
cover. Activity was moderate, and when active crappie were hitting live
minnows, Wright Bait Co. and Southern Pro curlytail jigs, small tubes, Kalin
crappie scrubs, and small swim baits. Yellow perch were scattered or in
loose aggregates in creeks and on flats in the main lake and were hitting
live minnows, small swim baits, and small jigs. Bluegill and shellcracker
were scattered or in small schools on flats near wood cover or along the
outer edge of hydrilla beds in 3 to 8 feet of water in the main lake, and
were hitting small jigs, Nikko nymphs, small swim baits, and live worms.
Most bass were on flats, along drop-offs, or in channels near mouths of the
major creeks and in the main lake, while a few bass were on shorelines,
especially under hydrilla mats. Pickerel were in creeks or on shorelines
or around wood cover or vegetation. When active, bass and pickerel were
hitting live minnows, spinnerbaits, swim baits, stick worms, crank baits,
jigs, and frogs.

Fishing with Capt. Conway, Alice Anne Potts and Vincent Hughes had 22
bluegill, 2 shellcracker, 1 yellow perch, and 2 blue cats. Joe Schmokler
had 1 gar, 1 blue cat, and 3 bass. Adam Fischer had 5 bluegill, 8 crappie,
and 2 blue cats. Tom Porter had 2 bluegill, 1 shellcracker, 8 crappie, 1
white perch, and 2 blue cats.