There are plenty of yellowfin tuna off the Outer Banks, but not many fishermen willing to drop two grand, bundle up and go chase them. But they are out there, some big bluefins, too.
In Virginia saltwater, it’s slim pickings. There are some togs and flounder being caught off the wrecks, but few are trying. A handful of anglers are picking up speckled trout at Rudee and Lynnhaven inlets.
On the OBX, surf fishing is next to nothing. A few skates and sharks are snatching baits, but little else is happening. At Hatteras, some bluefin tuna are being gaffed when boats can get out to them.
The Chick Lake
Some lakes fish better in the spring or fall, while others may be good choices during summer. The Chickahominy is one of those lakes that fishes well throughout the year, and especially in the winter months. The late Don Arthur was a guide on the Chick Lake and kept meticulous notes. His records showed clearly that he and his clients caught more large bass and pickerel during the winter than at any other time of the year. The Chick is a cold water hotspot.
The Chickahominy Lake is also among Virginia’s most scenic bodies of water. Home to a multitude of fish species and a variety of wildlife, cypress trees line the shore of the Chick and extend out into the water. Boats and kayaks can explore the inlets and lagoons and never be disappointed.
The lake is a 1230-acre water supply reservoir located along the New Kent-Charles City county line. This impoundment of the Chickahominy River was completed in 1943 with the construction of a low-head dam known locally as Walkers Dam. A fish ladder constructed into the dam allows for the passage of anadromous fish such as blueback herring and striped bass. The City of Newport News draws water from Chickahominy Lake and has been responsible for the recent repairs and renovations to Walkers Dam. A new, manually operated boat lock at the dam allows boat traffic to move between the lake and river.
The lake is a popular destination for anglers who enjoy fishing a 1,230-acre reservoir with plenty of habitat and cover. Chickahominy Lake continues to be a predator heavy system with an abundance of bass, black crappie, chain pickerel, stripes and bowfins. The blue catfish population has recently increased as anglers have started to target the catfish population. The shallow flats of Johnson and Lacey Creeks provide the earliest crappie action each year. Anglers report numerous citation-sized bass caught from Chickahominy Lake. Chickahominy Lake continues to produce an abundance of 4 to 6 pound bowfins with a decent chance at a citation over 10 pounds.
If the winter blahs get you down, head down to the Chickahominy Lake and catch yourself some nice bass.