Art Conway (804-514-1486) out of Ed Allen’s Boats and Bait reported that
Chickahominy Lake mid-day surface water temperatures were in the middle
to upper 50’s in the central lower lake on Wednesday (3/13/2024). With
very light winds today, the water was heating at the upper surface, with
upper 50’s at the surface, middle 50’s from 2 to 5 feet, and lower 50’s
from 10 feet to the bottom. The lake level was about 11 inches above
the top of the dam. The water was light to medium brown, slightly
cloudy at 1 foot, and quite murky at 3 feet due to an apparent layer of
suspended microscopic algae.

A few small blue cats, channel cats, and bullheads have been scattered
on flats, along drop-offs, and in channels in the main lake, and when
active have been hitting live minnows and cut bait. Most crappies
wintered in deeper areas in channels, some on the bottom and some
suspended. Most larger crappies appear to have left winter areas and
are entering creeks. The activity level of crappies in the creeks has
varied a lot over the past week and a half. Some days they won’t touch
minnows, but a few will hit a tube jig suspended under a float. Other
days they want nothing but minnows. White perch have been scattered or
in loose aggregates on deep flats, channel edges, and in channels in the
main lake, and when active have been hitting small baits including live
minnows, Gulp minnows and Fry, and swim baits. Yellow perch have run up
the river above the lake or into the major creeks and have deposited egg
strands onto submerged brush. Small bluegills have been in channels and
have usually been inactive, but occasionally hitting small Gulp baits on
dropshot rigs. A few bluegills and shellcrackers have entered the major
creeks and are occasionally hitting wet flies. Some pickerel and
largemouth bass have been on flats and on channel edges in the main
lake, and a few are starting to show up in major creeks. When active,
bass and pickerel have been hitting live minnows, spinnerbaits, swim
baits, stick worms, crank baits, and jerk baits.

Catches have varied with weather, with many species becoming relatively
inactive after heavy rains or cold fronts, then gradually becoming more
active as weather moderated. Luca Jones and his Grandad Charley Fasano
had 1 bluegill, 7 crappies, and 2 white perch. Steve and Mark Austin
had 2 crappies. Ethan Lindbloom and Kerry Hutcherson had 1
shellcracker, 3 crappies, 1 yellow perch, and 1 largemouth bass on fly
rods. Dean Hindman had 12 crappies.