The Overall Picture:

As of Monday, 23 Dec, the lake level is approx 14.5 inches above normal conservation pool and falling. There is increased current of Little River with the gates releasing around 8604 CFS as of Monday. Little River and the oxbows clarity worsened this week somewhat from all the rain and incoming stained water of several days of thunderstorms over the past week. Surface water temps dropped over the past week. Not as many fishermen on the lake over the past week.

Largemouth Bass continue in a moving phase to deeper creek channels and river break lines. The topwater bite which has been very good over the past 5-6 weeks with schooling activities and surface breaking has diminished with the cooler water temps.

Surface temps as of Monday, 23 Dec are ranging 45ºF early to 50ºF range, depending on rain, wind, incoming fresh water, location, and time of day.

Lake level as of Monday 23 Dec is currently is 260.4 mfsl, and falling with increased river current, which is approx 14 inches above normal conservation pool. Normal consv. pool is 259.20 feet. Discharge rate as of Monday was a total discharge of 8604 CFS . The tailwater level as of Monday was 244.56 mfsl.

Clarity and visibility not much different this week, in most areas on main lake. As of Monday on main lake structure away from current, clarity & visibility ranges approx 4-5 inches. Little River's visibility ranges 6-7 inches depending on location and current. The oxbow's clarity also stained over the weekend, ranging approx 12-14 inches 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.

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: remain sluggish, but fair, with the cooler weather and water temps. Slow moving 10" worms, wacky rigged Salty Rat Tails, Magnum Tubes with rattles, and slow moving crankbaits still are the best bet. Tail spinners such as Rat-L-Traps Spin Traps, Little Cleos, Little Georges, rooster tails, and Rocket Shads are still catching all species of Bass, but much slower and slightly deeper. Best colors of tail spinner hard baits like the Little Georges continue to be white, chartreuse, or a combination of those. Best colors of the Rooster Tails seem to be white/red or red/chrome combinations.

Crankbaits and Rat-L-Traps worked much slower have been the go-to bait for Bass for several weeks. Largemouths, Hybrids, Spots, and Whites are still located near points w/ stumps and in the creeks following shad. Recent overnight lows below the freezing mark have continued to reduced surface temperature, and ended the majority of the surface breaking over the past couple weeks. Bass are still hitting the crankbaits, just slower and they are beginning the move to deeper sections of creeks over the past few weeks.

Slow rolling, heavy 3/4oz War Eagle Spinnerbaits in Firetiger or white in stained or muddy water remain the best colors working around any remaining vegetation in creek channels. Dead sticking trick worms, wacky rigs w/ Salty Rat Tails, and Bass Assassin Shads are taking a few random Largemouths in the creek channels worked slow.

Large size Rat-L-Traps worked much slower and deeper in the creek channels, over the past week, are taking some 2-4 pound Largemouths. Best colors with the stain water conditions over the past week have been White Zombie, Red Shad, and Millwood Magic colors around 8-12 feet depth creek channel swings, deflecting off stumps. Spin-Traps in Chrome/Blue back or Diamond Dust continue taking Largemouth and White Bass along side the Hybrids mid day on points with stumps and in creek mouths. Bomber and XCalibur crankbaits worked slowly, in Citruese, Threadfin Shad, or Firetiger continue working for the Largemouths & Kentucky Bass, but much slower. Bomber Flat A's in Firetiger, or Black/Chartreuse are also catching Bass, but the trick continues to be working very slowly and deflecting off stumps in the creeks.

Real Deal Custom Tackle jigs are beginning to get bit in deeper sections of creek channels in same areas as the magnum size tubes. Best colors of jigs over the past week have been the Texas Craw, Black/blue, or Voodoo. Rattles help the Largemouths to find the jigs and tubes in this stained to dirty water clarity.

White Bass: Schools of Whites continue roaming Little River and being caught on points in the River, and in deeper sections of creek channels, along side the Largemouths. Bomber & XCalibur crankbaits in Threadfin Shad or Citreuse colors seem to be best colors over the past few weeks. Whites continue hitting Rat-L-Traps in Chrome Black Zombie, or Spin-Traps in Chrome blue-back, or Diamond Shad colors on points and creek channels. Rooster tails and Little Georges, chrome blue jiggin spoons also continue catching Whites.

Crappie: Crappie had begun stacking vertically on planted brush piles along Little River in 10-15 feet prior to the recent rise of water over a foot and a half. Live shiners, hair jigs, and Blakemore Roadrunners were working by vertical jigging in and around these planted brush piles. Since the muddy water inflow over the last week, these Crappie dissapeared out of the current in Little River and still have not returned to the brush planted along Little River due to the increase of current. Cordell smoke colored paddle tail grubs on light wire jig heads, and Blakemore Roadrunners in white & chartreuse seem to be best colors when you can locate the schools of Crappie out of muddy water and current.

Cats: No Report. Much fewer catfishermen out on the lake this week.

}><(((º> Lake Level & River Conditions Report <º)))><{

Surface temps as of Monday, 23 Dec are ranging 45ºF early to 50ºF range, depending on rain, wind, incoming fresh water, location, and time of day.

Lake level as of Monday 16 Dec is currently is 260.4 mfsl, and falling with increased river current, which is approx 14.5 inches above normal conservation pool. Normal consv. pool is 259.20 feet. Discharge rate was 8604 CFS Monday. The tailwater level as of Monday was at 244.56 mfsl.

Clarity and visibility continued heavy stain and muddy over the past few days most locations. As of Monday on main lake structure away from current, clarity & visibility ranges approx 4-5 inches. Little River's visibility ranges 6-7 inches depending on location and current. The oxbow's clarity also began to stain over the weekend with the thunderstorms, ranging approx 12-14 inches 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.

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,