Another tidal waterway, The Chickahominy River

[Nitrofreak]

I have been waiting for this one all year, last season was my first time ever seeing this river and what an impression it made, we didn’t have any real success there but I defiantly learned a bunch, I am hoping to fish some different areas I have in mind this time around.

 

We had some good discussions going the last time I asked this question so I thought I would ask again, who in here also fish’s the Chickahominy? Is there one you prefer more the river or the lake?
 

I think I fell in love with this place for its potential, so many nuances like grass and pads or different grasses in one area, it sets up just like a river system which is one of my favorite systems to fish being a Shenandoah River native, how can one leave out the cypress trees, man what a treat this place is.

[Brad Reams]

I prefer the lake

 

I've had good luck on the river, but getting the tide timing right is not always easy.

The boat traffic on the river is at least 4X more than you'll see on the lake. 

 

The lake now has equaled or exceeded the river, for the amount of citation bass. 

The lake has a good bit of hydrilla, not sure the river is choked up as much as the lake with it. 

 

They're both good fishing spots, but I give the edge to Chick Lake.  

Upper Chippokes Creek is another good spot, only fished it 1 time, but good quality bass, little pressure, little difficult to get to, but it's worth a try.  

[Sam]

Prefer the river.

 

Get the tide times and try to fish an outgoing tide.

 

Lots of creeks you can fish along with the grasses in the main river.

 

If there is an easterly wind you will not catch much, if anything.

 

If we do not have rain you will be able to catch crabs up to the cut through by River's Rest as the salt water moves into the river.

 

Go across the Historic James River to Upper Chippoaks and fish those cypress trees.

 

I suggest you get a GMCO Map of the Chick River and note all the places you can fish.

 

And you can launch from Route 5 or Rock-A-Hock by the dam.

 

Good luck and have fun.

 

 

 

 

[Nitrofreak]

10 hours ago, Brad Reams said:

I prefer the lake

 

I've had good luck on the river, but getting the tide timing right is not always easy.

The boat traffic on the river is at least 4X more than you'll see on the lake. 

 

The lake now has equaled or exceeded the river, for the amount of citation bass. 

The lake has a good bit of hydrilla, not sure the river is choked up as much as the lake with it. 

 

They're both good fishing spots, but I give the edge to Chick Lake.  

Upper Chippokes Creek is another good spot, only fished it 1 time, but good quality bass, little pressure, little difficult to get to, but it's worth a try.  

I don’t know if we will fish the lake part but reading your post I defiantly want to just go there in my time off and fish it even if just for the experience of doing so, I have looked at that lake on google maps as well as spoken to some who have fished that place only to find a couple who agree with your sentiments, personally I really would like to explore the lake because of those reasons you had mentioned, I just can not see it being as bad as people make it out to be, maybe it was at one time I do not have the time invested on that body of water to agree or disagree but it is defiantly an interesting topic.

 

Does the loc still operate or do you have to launch on the lake?

3 hours ago, Sam said:

Prefer the river.

 

Get the tide times and try to fish an outgoing tide.

 

Lots of creeks you can fish along with the grasses in the main river.

 

If there is an easterly wind you will not catch much, if anything.

 

If we do not have rain you will be able to catch crabs up to the cut through by River's Rest as the salt water moves into the river.

 

Go across the Historic James River to Upper Chippoaks and fish those cypress trees.

 

I suggest you get a GMCO Map of the Chick River and note all the places you can fish.

 

And you can launch from Route 5 or Rock-A-Hock by the dam.

 

Good luck and have fun.

 

 

 

 

I learned a long time ago from you about those GMCO maps and just how helpful they truly are.

 

I can not remember if we had an easterly wind that weekend last year, shucks, I am lucky to remember 10 minutes ago anymore?

 

I am certain that I have those details in my notebook however and I will most certainly read those before our trip for a new plan of how we are going to approach the weekend.

 

I really appreciate the kind words my friend, I hope all is well !!

[Brad Reams]

Don't count on the lock working, the last time I was there the locks weren't working.  

Seems they're frequently inoperable or broken, 

 

I researched Lake vs River # LM BASS Citations, Chick Lake was the #1 spot in VA for 2020  

 

Lake 2020 citations #37,

2019 was #36, 2018 was #19

 

River 2020 citations ?? (didn't find anything), 

2019 was #8, 2018 was #7

[Nitrofreak]

6 hours ago, Brad Reams said:

Don't count on the lock working, the last time I was there the locks weren't working.  

Seems they're frequently inoperable or broken, 

 

I researched Lake vs River # LM BASS Citations, Chick Lake was the #1 spot in VA for 2020  

 

Lake 2020 citations #37,

2019 was #36, 2018 was #19

 

River 2020 citations ?? (didn't find anything), 

2019 was #8, 2018 was #7

Really appreciate the efforts Brad, this is interesting news considering all the lakes and rivers we have that are known to produce citation LMB.

 

Last season a member from our club pulled out a 9+ from somewhere in the river, I guess that reaffirms my suspicions in which to say that, 1) It could be that people are saying this to avoid over pressuring the lake? or, 2) We as anglers are not taking the time to understand the lake and or don’t care to possibly?

 

Regardless I personally find the area really interesting and with this information just increases my desire to want to fish it at some point in time soon.

 

Again, I thank you for the work my friend !!

[Nitrofreak]

The Chick was a struggle for my tournament partner and I this past weekend, day one only produced almost 9 lbs of bass and day two was almost 5 lbs. both with a limit of bass.

 

Club weighted almost 20 for the win, we were way off base for sure, we did find a little something that we think we can use for this coming weekends next event in which we go right back to the Chick again so we will see.

 

We set a goal this season to be in the top 10 by years end, respectively we are sitting 10 and 11th with 3 events left, my partner being 10th, this past event surly didn’t help matters much but we are looking for some redemption and want to expand on what we learned, two weeks between events we know that an awful lot can change so we are prepared for adjustments that may need to be made but we remain excited for the opportunity to expand on what we learned if it all works out.

 

Tidal fisheries are something we are working hard on to get a grip with, a top 5 at our Classic on the Potomac is proof of how hard we are working to gain experience and knowledge about things like timing as well as adjustments during all aspects of the fishery.

 

I am pumped to get right back after it this coming weekend and put what we learned to the test, if we succeed or fail I’m still going to come away with something valuable for next seasons two events, god bless peeps and thanks for reading !!!

[lenchantin1]

I fished the chick a couple weeks ago and the action was slow due to really high tides. I started thinking of other ways to fish, and I started vertical jigging with my spinnerbait. The water was quite deep at the time and I ended up hooking a striper. Almost got him in the boat. Anyone else fish for stripers here and have success?