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 surface
water temperatures were in the low 60’s in the lower lake on Wednesday
(4/20/2022). The lake level was about an inch above the top of the dam.
The surface water was light to medium brown and clear in the central lower
lake, with more cloudy water deeper, on windy shorelines, and in some
creeks.

A few small blue cats and bullheads were scattered on flats, along
drop-offs, and in channels in the main lake, and when active were hitting
live minnows and cut bait. The majority of spawning crappie appeared to
have left the creeks in response to the cold front. Most crappie were near
channel edge brush piles in the main lake and were moderately active on
sunny afternoons. Active crappie were hitting live minnows, tubes, curly
tail grubs, and small swim baits. White perch were scattered or in loose
aggregates on deep flats and channel edges in the upper main lake, and when
active were hitting small live minnows, swim baits, and jigs. Some bluegill
and shellcracker had been in shallow bays and in creeks, but appeared to
have left following the cold front. Look for them to return with warmer
weather and to hit live worms and wet flies. Pickerel and bass were in
creeks and around cypress trees, on deeper flats, and in channels in the
main lake. When active, bass and pickerel were hitting live minnows,
spinnerbaits, swim baits, stick worms, crank baits, and jerk baits.

Fishing with Capt. Conway, Mickey Cleveland had 1 bluegill and 9 crappie.
Alice Anne Potts and her Mom Anne had 6 bluegill, 3 shellcrackers, and 11
crappie. Dave Mosser had 5 crappie and 1 pickerel. Tom Porter had 13
crappie and 1 largemouth bass.