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 thawed last
weekend. Mid-day water temperatures were in the low to mid 40’s in the main
lake and in the major creeks on Wednesday (1/24/2018). The lake level was
about even with the top of the dam and the water was light brown and
slightly to moderately stained in the central lake.

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 starting to pick
back up, 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 when active 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
mostly inactive, but 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.