Mike- I am a mediocre fisherman but striving to improve. I fished Cheatham 3 times this past spring/summer. We didn't fish the ponds but my wife has. She just got out of the service so now we can't go back. On the big lake you have to use their rentasl boats. Not private boats at all. I have a portable fishfinder unit I took with me and I was shocked to see the water depth was 6 ft at its deepest. I went over about 80% of the lake. I caught a black crappie the first trip and nothing but blue gill the rest of the trips.
Like I said, I am not the best fisherman but manage to catch fish at other places. I want to try Little Creek but this weekend I was planning on the Northwest River in Chesapeake. My wife and I bank fished there in Dec and were pulling in fish. Not big ones but they were biting. I am going to try to get some minnows but lacking that I have some chartreuse maribou 1/16 oz jigs I was going to try. I also have caught some on a small crappie spinner but at this time of year I don't know if I can slow it down enough.
Good luck!