Capt. Art Conway of Conway’s River Rat Guide Service (804-746-2475) out of Ed Allen’s Boats and Bait reported that Chickahominy Lake mid-day water temperatures were in the mid 40’s in the main lake on Wednesday (1/6/2016), a drop of 10 degrees since Saturday. Most of the creeks and swamps were iced over, so the water temperature in the main lake will probably drop further over the next few days. The lake level was about 6 inches above top of the dam and dropping. The water was dark brown and clear in the central lower lake.
Fishing had slowed due to the rapid temperature drop, but the following patterns will probably resume as soon as conditions stabilize. Blue cats and a few bullheads were in channels and winter holes and were hitting live minnows and cut bait. Moderate numbers of crappie were in loose schools in the main lake on deeper flats, along channel edges, and in channels, usually at depths of 7 to 15 feet, sometimes suspended, and frequently in the neighborhood of wood cover. In areas of stronger current, most crappies were in eddies and other protected spots out of the main current. Active crappie were hitting live minnows, Wright Bait Co. curlytail jigs, small tubes, Kalin crappie scrubs, small swim baits, jigging spoons, and blade baits. Some small to medium yellow perch were scattered on deeper main lake flats and were hitting live minnows, small jerk baits, spoons, and small jigs. Most bluegill and shellcracker had moved to the deep edges of hydrilla flats, to mid-depth wood cover, or into channels and when active were hitting live crickets and worms, small blade baits, tubes, and jigs. Most bass and pickerel were on deeper flats and in channels in the main lake and were hitting live minnows, spinnerbaits, swim baits, stick worms, crank baits, jerk baits, and jigs. In areas of stronger current, many bass were in eddies, frequently in deeper water next to shoreline structures.
Fishing with Capt. Conway, Tom Porter had 20 crappie and 1 bass.