The Overall Picture:

As of Monday, 28 Oct, the lake level is approx 6 inches above normal conservation pool and rising. There is small amount of current of Little River with the gates releasing around 400 CFS as of Monday. The Largemouth Bass have continued schooling in several locations over the past month. Little River and the oxbows over the past week had begun clearing again until the recent rains and incoming fresh water over the past several days. Surface water temps dropped only slightly over the past week.

Largemouth Bass continue in a fall transition phase, and the topwater bite which has been very good over the past 4-5 weeks with schooling activities and random surface feeding.

Surface temps as of Monday, 28 Oct are ranging 69ºF early to 76ºF range, depending on rain, wind, incoming fresh water, location, and time of day.

Lake level as of Monday 28 Oct is currently is 259.68 mfsl, and rising with increased river current, which is approx 6 inches above normal conservation pool. Normal consv. pool is 259.20 feet. Discharge rate as of Monday was a total discharge of 394 CFS . The tailwater level as of Monday was up slightly, 232.15 mfsl.

Clarity and visibility are fair to good in most areas over the past week, but beginning to color with stain since the rain. As of Monday on main lake structure away from current, clarity & visibility ranges approx 8-10 inches. Little River's visibility ranges 8-10 inches depending on location and current. The oxbow's clarity began to clear over the weekend with the reduced current of Little River, ranging approx 2-3 feet depth of visibility depending on location. Clarity and visibility can change dramatically on Millwood in just a few hours with high winds, rain, or thunderstorms.

The USACE recently completed addition of the 5 new campsites to White Cliffs campground. Currently, the new pavement in the park and the electrical work is completed. The new campsite areas opened for overnight camping with electrical hookups recently. The government shutdown has now ended, and all functioning US Corps of Engineer's day- use parks, campgrounds, and boat ramps have reopened. The Arkansas State Park, Millwood Lake State Park campground, and both of its (2) boat ramps are open. Jack's Isle and Yarborough Landing both boat ramps are open, all operated independently, by Little River County.

To volunteer for one of the cleanup dates or ramp and USACE park information, contact Tony Porter at the Millwood Tri-Lakes Project Office. To receive project updates, daily lake level information updates, gate release flows, tailwater information, park and campground information, or volunteer, call the US Army Corps of Engrs toll-free Millwood Project information line at 888-697-9830 or the US Army Corps of Engineers' main number to verify another Corp of Engineers project is open, at 877-444-6777.

The Details:

Largemouth Bass: The top water action has been very good to excellent over the past 6-8 weeks, with surface breaking in various locations by bass in the 2-3 pound range. The schooling continues as the bass are beginning their fall feedbag frenzy on large pods of threadfin and gizzard shad in lily pads, hydrilla, and creek junctions with the river . Johnson Chrome spoons with white grub trailers continue working in the lily pads, and Bass Assassin Shads, soft plastic frogs, and spinnerbaits continue to get good reactions from Largemouths around vegetation. Crankbaits and Rat-L-Traps have been the number one bait for good daily limits of Bass for weeks. Largemouths are continuing to stage at creek junctions, in preparation for the shad migration to the backs of creeks.

Over the past several weeks, the best reaction baits were Bass Assassin Shads, Bomber crankbaits, and Rat-L-Traps around pads and vegetation at creek junctions. Bass Assassin Shads and Twitch Assassins wacky-rigged, in Black Shad, Crystal Shad, and Smoke Pepper Shad continue working well for 2-3 lb class Bass. Frogs in black or pumpkinseed and Johnson spoons remain as good choices in pads. While fish are randomly surface feeding, clear Baby Torpedoes, Dying Flutters, Ken Pops, Cordell Crazy Shads, or Cordell Gay Blades will load the boat in a hurry.

War Eagle Spinnerbaits in Firetiger, white, or Hot Mouse, colors remain the best colors working in pads, hydrilla, pond weed, and coontail moss and vegetation. Best color for Rat-L-Traps over the past week remain Natural Shad, Liv-N-Chrome, or White Zombie colors around 5-9 feet depth creek channel swings near vegetation and stumps. 10" Yum plastic worms are working randomly, Watermelon Red in the clearer water; Junebug, Black Neon, or Grape Red in stained water around cypress trees and stumps.

When surface feeding and breaking subsides, Bomber and XCalibur crankbaits in Foxy Mama, Foxy Shad, Foxy Lady, and Pearl White are working on the schools of Largemouths & Kentucky Bass. Bomber Flat A's in Silver Flash and Pearl Shad will also pull up the Bass from the huge schools roaming Little River in search of threadfin and gizzard shad.

White Bass: Whites and hybrids continue roaming Little River and being caught on points along side the Largemouths using Bomber & XCalibur crankbaits in Chartreuse Blush, Pearl Melon, Ghost, or Foxy Momma colors, and in grass and pads on spinner baits. Whites also continue hitting Rat-L-Traps in Chrome Black Zombie, Sexy Zombie, or Spin-Traps in Chrome blue-back colors on points and creek mouth junctions.

Crappie: Crappie are continuing to move shallow following shad and baitfish into the creek channels. Live shiners, hair jigs, and Blakemore Roadrunners continue working by vertical jigging in and around planted brush piles from 8-12 feet of depth and jigs in white/red, black/chartreuse, or Blakemore Roadrunners in white & chartreuse seem to be best colors.

Cats: No report on cats this week. Fewer cat fishermen on the river. They must all be in the woods.

Lake Level & River Conditions Report

Surface temps as of Monday, 28 Oct are ranging 69ºF early to 76ºF range, depending on rain, wind, incoming fresh water, location, and time of day.

Lake level as of Monday 28 Oct is currently is 259.68 mfsl, and rising with decreased river current, which is approx 6 inches above normal conservation pool. Normal consv. pool is 259.20 feet. Discharge rate as of Monday was a total discharge of 394 CFS . The tailwater level as of Monday was up slightly, 232.15 mfsl.

Clarity and visibility had begun improving last week, now staining with recent rain and incoming water. As of Monday on main lake structure away from current, clarity & visibility ranges approx 8-10 inches. Little River's visibility ranges 8-10 inches depending on location and current. The oxbow's clarity began to clear over the weekend with the reduced current of Little River, ranging approx 2-3 feet depth of visibility depending on location. Clarity and visibility can change dramatically on Millwood in just a few hours with high winds, rain, or thunderstorms.

The USACE recently completed addition of the 5 new campsites to White Cliffs campground. Currently, the new pavement in the park and the electrical work is completed. The new campsite areas opened for overnight camping with electrical hookups recently. The government shutdown has now ended, and all functioning US Corps of Engineers' day- use parks, campgrounds, and boat ramps have re-opened. The Arkansas State Park, Millwood Lake State Park campground, and both of its (2) boat ramps are open. Jack's Isle and Yarborough Landing both boat ramps are open, operated independently, by Little River County.

To volunteer for one of the cleanup dates or ramp and USACE park information, contact Tony Porter at the Millwood Tri-Lakes Project Office. To receive project updates, daily lake level information updates, gate release flows, tailwater information, park and campground information, or volunteer, call the US Army Corps of Engrs toll-free information line at 888-697-9830 or the US Army Corps of Engineers' main number to verify another Corps of Engrs project is open, at 877-444-6777.

Wear your Life Jacket and kill switch!! If you are suddenly or unexpectedly thrown from your boat, it could be your only chance of survival. Use caution navigating Little River in low light conditions, SLOW DOWN, and pass friendly to other boaters! As always, careful watch for any random floaters and debris in Little River's current, and wearing your PFD and kill switch is a requirement!

Visit with us on our website, YouTube, and on Facebook, for the most current Millwood Lake fishing and water conditions report, updated weekly. See some great catch and release photos, sponsor links, tons of great information and resources on the lake available to you, along with excellent related direct links to Arkansas' State Parks, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's Black Bass Program, The US Army Corps of Engineers, Arkansas.com and tons more great fishing stuff....

'Til next week, hope to see you on the lake,