Hey guys, just joined the forums and let me say this community is awesome! I'm back on a small break from college and planning to go fishing with my Dad at the Chick. Lake. Just wondering if anyone knows what pattern the fish are on right now. Are they still deep, back in creeks, etc? Would love some advice for fishing there, the past few times we have went we haven't caught much. Also, what lure should we throw? Usually I throw T-rig, spinnerbaits, and crankbaits, but since it is colder I figured I would want to present something very slow. Tight lines!

Not many guys on the Forum fish Chick Lake.

 

With the grass feeling the winter waters and not crowding out the lake you can throw your lipless crankbaits, Chatterbaits, swim baits, flukes, shaky heads, Senkos, spinnerbaits, drop shots, jigs and anything you want until the bass tell you what they want.

 

The two creeks maybe good but there are so many places to fish the Chick Lake that you should be able to find the bass even though it may take some time.

 

Call Ed. Allen's and ask them what is a good bait to throw. Also call Eagle's Landing and ask them, too.

 

Check out Art Captain Conway's web page, http://edallens.com/fishing-report/

 

Good luck. Post pics of what you catch.

 

Also, please introduce yourself in the Introductions section.

 

 

Huh, would you recommend fishing the Chick river or Pamunkey instead? Me and my Dad tried fishing the Pamunkey once, but he nor I have ever fished a tidal river before, and we ended up not doing too hot.  

I fish all of these bodies of water...just not in winter. Chick lake warms quick because of the depth and black silt mud. Pickerel and ring perch are abundant and like colder water. I would try suspending jerk baits near breaks. Spinnerbait is a king on that lake. 

Tidal rivers are a different game. Be on the water at high tide and fish outgoing. I tournament fished all the tidal rivers fir years.  Mattoponi, Pamunkey, James, App and nottoway.  If the tide is not moving out or at least moving. You can put it on the trailer and go home. Tidal fish aren't as lethargic as lake fish since their environment is always moving. But the feeding mood...I'm hit or miss on that one. Crank baits fished slow and slow rolling Spinnerbait/swimbait should produce something. 

That is why you are here: to learn. And there is a lot to learn about a small creature with a brain the size of a marble.

 

Check out the Woo Dave's instructional videos on Woo's web site for information on various fishing subjects: http://woodaves.com/

 

Then do your research on the Forum for various topics.

 

You need to know about the tide charts available on the Internet if you are going to fish Virginia's tidal rivers. Remember, you want a long outgoing tide. Tides change ever two weeks. Check out and bookmark the tide chart page: http://www.saltwatertides.com/dynamic.dir/virginiasites.html

 

No one can give you a magic bullet to catch them on every cast. You have to try to out think the bass and then experiment with baits, depths, retrieve speeds, and a lot of other options to find the bass. In other words, you are a hunter in a totally hostile environment where this little small green creature can humble you in a New York second.

 

Have fun learning. It is one of the most satisfying things you can do.

16 hours ago, DMW said:

Huh, would you recommend fishing the Chick river or Pamunkey instead? Me and my Dad tried fishing the Pamunkey once, but he nor I have ever fished a tidal river before, and we ended up not doing too hot.  

Pamunkey is a fun river but you have to be careful of underwater stumps in certain places.

 

The Chick River is a vast body of water. So many places to fish.

 

On both rivers you have to watch the tides as you can get yourself stuck in the back of a creek if you are not careful about when the low tide will be reached.

 

Get the GMCO maps from BPS or Green Top of both rivers and use them as your guide. Fish the main river banks, creeks, coves, docks, piers and marinas on each.

How often are the Chickahominy GMCO maps updated? Anyone know? I looked on Amazon and it doesn't indicate how up to date the maps are. Thanks