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 60’s in the lower main lake, lower in the upper
lake, and higher in the creeks on Wednesday (4/4/2018). The lake level was
a few inches above the top of the dam. The water was light brown and
slightly cloudy 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. Some crappie were on drop-offs and in channels in the
main lake, especially near wood cover, while a moderate number of crappie
were in the major creeks. Most crappie in the lower lake were relatively
inactive, but some crappie in the upper lake and in the creeks were more
active. 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 flats, drop-offs, and channels in the main lake and some
creeks, and when active were hitting live minnows, small swim baits, and
small jigs. Some bluegill were still along drop-offs or in channels in the
main lake and were mostly inactive, but other bluegill had moved into the
creeks, frequently near shorelines, and were 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, while
pickerel and a few bass were in deeper channels and on flats in creeks.
When active, bass and pickerel were hitting live minnows, spinnerbaits, swim
baits, stick worms, crank baits, jerk baits, blade baits, and jigs.
Fishing with Capt. Conway, Bill Marley and Lee Bensey had 19 crappie.
Mickey Cleveland had 12 crappie. Charles and Mitchell Turnage had 2
crappie, 3 yellow perch, and 3 pickerel. Tom Porter had 3 bluegill, 11
crappie, 3 yellow perch, 2 pickerel, and 2 bass.
