Chickahominy Lake vs. Chichahominy River

[Joe D]

I am new to fishing the Chichahominy, this is my first year, and I have fished the lake about ten times. I have had some ok catches, a couple of five pounders, but not much more. I have noticed that most guys seem to prefer fishing the river sections, what is the thinking behind that? Are those areas more predictable because of the tides, better structure, more fish? I am just wondering if I should continue to grind it out on the lake or venture down to the river. Any thoughts would be great.

Joey

[Micro]

I don't know that people prefer the river to the lake. It's just that the river is much larger, has many more docks and other structure to fish. The river also suits people with bigger boats. There are better developed ramps and places to host tournaments. On the lake, it's just Ed Allen's and Eagle's Landing. Neither can accomodate big tournaments. Just because of that, there will always be more fishing on the river than the lake.

However, I don't fish tournaments and I prefer the lake. I have a 15' jon boat. My boat is perfect for the lake. I can go onto some of the flats and into some of the creeks guys with big bass boats avoid. I've been out during tournaments and fished the creeks on the south side of the lake. These guys with big boats will usually only venture into the mouths of these creeks but won't go to the backs of them. I catch my biggest bass in areas where I literally have to bump between trees and mounds of vegetation.

The fishing is also different. The upper river is much like the lake. But the lower river and Morris Creek is true tidal bass fishing. You are dealing with fast currents and sometimes saltwater. On the lower river, you also don't have to deal with thermoclines like the lake and upper river. The current keeps the water mixed together. On the lower river (especially Morris Creek), bass fishing is much the same in spring, summer and fall. Only in winter do I notice significantly different patterns.

 

[Joe D]

So this time of year do you plow your way back through the mats into those creeks or just skip them all together?

Joe

[Micro]

Well, I don't fish it much in mid summer.  Not because of the weeds, but because of the heat.  The weeds are just as bad in the early fall.  They really don't start dying back until the water cools off a lot.  So I raise my trolling motor as high as I can and go back as far as I can.  I've even held my motor up by hand and buzzed through some of the slop.   Those weedy areas are incredible in the fall.  September and October are some of the best frog months on that lake.

[jam1082]

Micro,

I heard that you can rent boats at ed allens. Can you provide any information on that?

[go4bass]

I ventured out yesterday in the lake for the first time in 25 years. It was very windy from the north-east and i caught 1 small bass on a crankbait. I live only a few miles from the lake and am just getting back into bassin. I have been to Diascund twice and not even a strike. I plan on fishing the local reservoirs and would appreciate any help. I did enjoy just being on the lake yesterday and will be back. Also enjoy this forum! Look forward to more local info.

[slider head]

Just curious. I have never fished Chick but a good friend of mines Dad is in a club that always go to Chick once a year. Is it as full of snakes as I have heard?

[Sam]

Slider,

I do not remember ever seeing snakes all over the Chick River or Lake.

I don't think you have to be concerned about any animals, other than LMB.

Micro, we need to hit Chick Lake.  

[Micro]

Just curious. I have never fished Chick but a good friend of mines Dad is in a club that always go to Chick once a year. Is it as full of snakes as I have heard?

I caught a Ribbon Snake swimming in 55 degree water last fall.  I caught a 6+ foot Black Rat Snake swimming across the lake a couple of years ago.  And you really can't make a trip out there in the later spring or summer without seeing a water snake or two swimming among the weeds.  But the snakes never bother you.  The only time I've ever come into physical contact with them is if I tried.   There are no venomous snakes (regularly) in Chick Lake or Chick River.  

[Micro]

Slider,

I do not remember ever seeing snakes all over the Chick River or Lake.

I don't think you have to be concerned about any animals, other than LMB.

Micro, we need to hit Chick Lake.

Anytime you are ready.  

[Micro]

Micro,

I heard that you can rent boats at ed allens. Can you provide any information on that?

They rent small jon boats with 5 or 6 hp outboards.  They also rent trolling motors.  Most guys will rent one of these and put on the front of the boat and steer it by hand.  Some of the biggest fish that ever came out of that lake were caught by guys in beat-up old rental boats.  

[Sam]

Micro,

You mean that the fish don't realize that they only need to eat baits thrown off a Ranger??????      

They rent small jon boats with 5 or 6 hp outboards. They also rent trolling motors. Most guys will rent one of these and put on the front of the boat and steer it by hand. Some of the biggest fish that ever came out of that lake were caught by guys in beat-up old rental boats.

[jam1082]

Thanks for the info regarding the boats, hopefully i will be able to get out there one day and fish.

[Micro]

I'm sure there are some high-falutin, herbal-tea-drinkin', fancy-talking bass in that lake.  But most of them are just don't give a d**n.

[landingcrew]

the shad run is on in the chick, gotta get into the small feeder creeks and run a small crank through there, or a buzzbait on top to get the toilet bowl flush affect. but there are no fish in the paddies, also there not hitting frogs, so dont bother 8-)