From Ed Allen’s Boats & Baits comes word that Chickahominy Lake was at normal level and clear by mid-September. Water temperature was in the low to mid 80s with average fishing pressure. Visitors this month can expect water temperatures in the low 70’s to high 80’s.
Best bass baits for the lake in October should be swimbaits, Senkos and bladed jigs. Some schooling action began last month so look for baitfish being harassed by bass back in main lake pockets but not way back in creeks.
Ed Allen’s has a boat ramp, a fleet of jon boats and motors to rent, rental pontoons, a great tackle shop, motel, fishing pier and great lakeside restaurant. It’s a full service fishing camp on the lower end of the lake.
Eagles Landing is your up-lake fishing headquarters. Jill and John maintain a boat ramp, jon boat rentals, minnow sales and covered boat storage in their place where anglers can access the upper-end of the Chickahominy Lake.
Down on Chickahominy River, fishing has improved over the alight downturn during the dog days of summer that lingered last month.
Anglers visiting here should target schooled fish along lily pad edges in the upper-end of the river and at the mouth of creeks in the lower end.
Good lures to use on this tidal river in October include small crankbait, a spinnerbait and a swimbait. Some anglers have had consistent action all summer using a drop shot, bladed jig and a small worm around upper river lily pads.
Crappie action should pick up on the river as soon as the water temperature gets in the 60’s, possibly later this month. Check the docks and other wood cover at the mouth of Diascund Creek and around the dam first. RockAHock Campground & Cottages on the river is a great place to stay if you are planning a fall visit to the region. They have cottages for rent right on through the winter and ramps on both the river and lake you can access.
Over at Riverside Marina & Campground, the Bruce family welcomes your fall visit. They have rent cabins and a new cottage right on the river, plus a boat ramp, minnows and rental jon and platoon boats. Fishing is excellent right across from the marina so you don’t have to run far to be in the bass.
Lin Bell at Fishing ProTech is truly the state’s top purveyor of hard-to-get tackle. Everything from MegaBass lures and rods, to Shimano reels (Chronarch and Vandford), Daiwa reels, MegaBass and Dobyns rods, Evergreen baits (Showblow SBs are back in all sizes), the new CAST Prodigy swimbaits, the MegaBass SleeperGill, special run ZOOM colors, lzorline, Berkley Slobberknockers, oversized glide and swimbaits and even Garmin electronics. This shop has got some incredible trend-setting products in stock.
Toano is also home to Toano General Gun Shop where you’ll find Don Bishop and his selection of handguns and long guns to buy, sell or trade and the expert gunsmiths at Sodan Arms.
Adam’s Sports Mart in Providence Forge at the intersection of Rt. 60 and 155 offers visiting anglers and hunters a great place to fuel up, get food and stocked up for fishing and hunting adventures on nearby Chickahominy Lake and River or Diascund Reservoir. The latter is an often overlooked fishery offering anglers big crappie, largemouth and spotted bass.
Over on the other side of Rt. 5, you’ll find Tomahund Marina. John and his staff will be unpacking a shipment of Beavertail boats and motors this fall in addition to rigging War Eagles. The shop also now stocks a great selection of bass and crappie fishing tackle, plus marine accessories and parts.
