Capt. Art Conway of Conway’s River Rat Guide Service (804-514-1486) out of
Ed Allen’s Boats and Bait reported that Chickahominy Lake mid-day water
temperatures were in the low to mid 30’s in the main lake and in the major
creeks on Wednesday (1/17/2018). The lake level was about even with the top
of the dam and the water was light brown and clear in the central lake. The
main lake and creeks thawed late last week, but were refreezing on
Wednesday. The lake and creeks were partially iced over, and the ice was
spreading, with most areas not yet frozen covered with slush from the snow.
The ice will most likely melt late this week due to higher temperatures.

The following patterns were present before ice-up, and will probably still
hold when the ice leaves.

Most blue cats and bullheads were on deeper flats, along drop-offs, and in
channels in the main lake and scattered in creeks, and were hitting live
minnows and cut bait. Most crappie were on drop-offs and in channels in the
main lake, especially near wood cover. Crappie activity was variable, and
when active, crappie were hitting live minnows, Wright Bait Co. and Southern
Pro curlytail jigs, small tubes, Kalin crappie scrubs, small swim baits, and
blade baits. Yellow and white perch were scattered or in loose aggregates
on deeper flats, drop-offs, and channels in the main lake and were hitting
live minnows, small swim baits, and small jigs. Most bluegill were along
drop-offs or in channels in the main lake and were occasionally hitting
small jigs, wet flies, Nikko nymphs, small swim baits, and live worms. Many
bass and pickerel were on deeper flats, along drop-offs, or in channels in
the main lake. When active, bass and pickerel were hitting live minnows,
spinnerbaits, swim baits, stick worms, crank baits, jerk baits, blade baits,
and jigs.