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
70’s in the central lower lake on Wednesday (5/22/2024). The lake level
was about 6 inches above the top of the dam. The water was medium brown,
clear at the surface, slightly to moderately 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, shrimp, and cut bait. A fair
number of small to medium crappies were around creek mouths at moderate
depths and hitting minnows and small jigs. A few White perch have been
scattered or in loose aggregates on deep flats, channel edges, and in
channels in the main lake and occasionally in creeks, and when active
have been hitting small baits including live minnows, Gulp minnows and
Fry, and swim baits. A few yellow perch have been in the creeks and in
the main lake and hitting small curly tail jigs. Increasing numbers of
bluegills and shellcrackers are in the major creeks and some main lake
shorelines and are hitting live worms, wet flies, and small jigs.
Bluegill spawning clusters are appearing this week in response to the
full moon. Some pickerel and largemouth bass have been on flats and
channel edges in the main lake and shorelines in the main lake and major
creeks and 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. Sandra Rothrock had 36 bluegills, 1
shellcracker, 9 crappies, 2 white perch, 1 yellow perch, and 1 bowfin.