Lake Chesdin, Virginia

[Sam]

Friends tell me that Lake Chesdin is extremely low.

So low that you cannot launch your boat from the free ramp on the Dinwiddie County side.

They tell me you can walk to the end of Seven Springs Marina dock and see the bottom. In addition, the water is so low that you have to actually climb onto the dock from your boat.

Anyone out there fish Lake Chesdin lately?

If so, what are you seeing and how is the fishing?

Thanks in advance.  

[Froggin]

A lot of boats are in the mud....A couple buddies have pontoons at cozy cove and they are in the mud...Its almost impossible to get into the old river and I heard the fishing is tough....As well as riding the lake if you can get out because a lot of structure is just under the surface and many boats are being damaged....Good luck to anyone going out on that lake....You can walk from cozy cove over to the chesterfield side and never go over your head until you hit the channel right there at the shore...great time to mark some structure..

Tracker....

[Sam]

Thanks, Froggin.

Maybe we will get some needed rain and fill up the lake.  

[BassShephard]

Been trying to make it out to the Pier on the Dam, I imagine it shouldn't be to low there? if it is I'm not going to bother its bad enough fishing off the Pier as is really wish they would keep some of the bank cleared off.

[Sam]

Bass,

When the lake is at a normal level, you can walk around the Dinwiddie free ramp area and throw to the cove to the left, out on the pier, and then along the shore towards the dam.

The property surrounding the lake is privately owned and you will not be able to walk around.

The shore line is full of brush, trees and other obstacles so I doubt you will have a good time fighting those hazards.

You can always to over to Seven Springs Marina and walk their boat docks until they throw you out, if they do throw you out.  

[BassShephard]

last time I went you couldn't walk but a few feet from the pier do to trees/brush, I need a boat  , I've been to the marina fishing a few times only thing I catch is bream, bit noisy there.

[Captain Whit III]

2010 Update

Friends tell me that Lake Chesdin is extremely low.

So low that you cannot launch your boat from the free ramp on the Dinwiddie County side.

They tell me you can walk to the end of Seven Springs Marina dock and see the bottom. In addition, the water is so low that you have to actually climb onto the dock from your boat.

Anyone out there fish Lake Chesdin lately?

If so, what are you seeing and how is the fishing?

Thanks in advance.

Any fishing updates? We are looking to take a day and paddle the lake next week end to end.

Yesterday guys were launching from the beach to the rt of the public ramp (Looking form the lake) with no issues ~ small boats with 4wd trucks. I launched my 19' from the beach across the lake last Sat. Traffic is low and the lake is peaceful ~ not sure on the fising.

End of the dock @ 7-springs is dry land only the outer most pilings of the building are still in water every boat their except one tied to a floating dock next to the building and one anchored out is on dry land. They were collecting all the tires and trash around the dock earlier this week.

[Captain Whit III]

Tried to post a few pics but will not let me link to photo bucket yet...

Pics below were snapped by a friends husband last weekend (9-20). I keep forgetting the camera :-/

Yesterday 9-24 looked across the lake to see folks standing at the waters edge and the end of the boat ramp was at the top of their head.  So Looks like water is now about 5-6' below end of ramp. 

[Captain Whit III]

Whippernock last weekend ~

[Captain Whit III]

Whippernock creek looking out towards the lake~

[Captain Whit III]

Namozine creek looking up creek ~

[Captain Whit III]

Allens / Cosey Cove ~

[Captain Whit III]

Just to give a better idea of the drop.   

[Captain Whit III]

and a news clip photo of launchign a boat off the beach at the public ramp.  Ramp is just left out of frame.

[Sam]

Thanks for the pics.

Friends have been sending pics to me via the cell  phone and they are hard to see.

I was going to try to walk around and sketch the lake's structure but went to Anna on Friday and am working around the house today.

Would be great to get some pics of the entrance way into the Swamp.

Thanks for sharing. 

[Captain Whit III]

Sam,

   A friend of 20 yrs ago was shooting areial footage for the news.  I'll send him and email and see if I can get any shots of the skinny water.  Not sure if he will oblige ~ as he shoots areial for a living.  Did hear recently that google earth updated to July 4th ~ that may help.  I check that too.

[Sam]

Thanks Captain.

Tried Google Earth but it is an old photo.

I toured Lake Anna on Friday and it is down from 12 to 18 inches.

Saw the shoreline where we fish plus checked out some roadbeds and humps.

Let me know if we can get that footage.

Take care.