Art Conway (804-514-1486) out of Ed Allen’s Boats and Bait reported that
Chickahominy Lake mid-day surface water was in the middle 40’s in the
lower region of the lake on Wednesday (1/29/2025). The lake level was
about even with the top of the dam. The water was medium brown, clear at
the surface, slightly to moderately cloudy at 1 foot, and quite murky
below 2 feet due to stirred up sediment in shoreline areas and an
apparent layer of suspended microscopic algae. The ice from last week
was completely melted in the lower part of the main lake, but a little
shoreline ice was present in some shaded coves.

The following patterns are typical during winter water temperatures. A
few blue cats, channel cats, and bullheads are typically scattered on
flats, along drop-offs, and primarily in deeper regions of channels in
the main lake, and when active typically hit live minnows and cut bait.
Most crappies are usually primarily in channels and vary in activity,
primarily hitting live minnows or small blade baits. White perch and
yellow perch are usually scattered or in loose aggregates on channel
edges and in channels in the main lake, and when active hit small baits
including live minnows, Gulp minnows and fry, and blade baits.
Bluegills are typically in deep areas in channels and occasionally hit
Gulp fry on drop shot rigs. Largemouth bass, pickerel, and bowfins are
frequently in the same deep channel holes with crappies and hit live
minnows and blade baits.