Art Conway (804-514-1486) out of Ed Allen’s Boats and Bait reported that
on Wednesday July 29, Chickahominy Lake mid-day surface water
temperatures in the lower lake were in the upper 70’s, representing a
drop from last week. The lake level was about 7 inches above the top of
the dam, up from last week. The water was medium brown, clear from the
surface to about 1 foot, but much more murky for several feet below 2 or
3 feet, apparently due to an algal layer.

A few blue cats, channel cats, and bullheads were scattered in deeper
regions of channels in the main lake, but some were in some creeks and
on flats. Moderate numbers of crappies were on main lake channel-edge
wood cover, especially near creek mouths. Moderate numbers of bluegills
and a few shellcrackers were in scattered patches on main lake shoreline
flats, frequently associated with traditional spawning areas. A few
pickerel and bass have been in creek channels, on channel edge flats,
and on channel-edge brush piles.

Shallows in many areas in creeks and in some main lake areas were
becoming difficult to fish due to numerous clumps of filamentous algae
floating at or near the surface. Many areas had similar algae coating
the bottom.

For bluegills, red wiggler worms under a bobber on spinning rods and
dragonfly nymph wet flies on fly rods have both been effective. For
crappies, small minnows under bobbers have been most effective.