The Overall Picture:

As of Monday, 17 Feb, the lake level is approx 7 inches above normal conservation pool and falling. There is reduced current of Little River with the gates releasing around 2800 CFS as of Monday. Water temps jumped over the past week. Not as many fishermen on the lake over the past few weeks. Lake level has dropped slightly over the past few days.

Surface temps as of Monday, 17 Feb are ranging 44ºF early to 50ºF range, depending on rain, wind, incoming fresh water, location, and time of day.

Lake level as of Monday, is currently is 259.80 mfsl, and falling with river current, which is approx 7 inches above normal conservation pool. Normal consv. pool is 259.20 feet. Discharge rate as of Monday was around 2800 CFS. As of Monday the tailwater level was 231.20 mfsl.

Clarity and visibility improved slightly this week, in most areas on main lake. As of Monday on main lake structure away from current, clarity & visibility ranges approx 5-8 inches. Cottonshed and northeast section of the lake is still muddy. Little River's visibility ranges 4-5 inches depending on location and current. The oxbow's clarity is ranging approx 12-15 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: Over the past week, we are seeing a rise in water temperature, but Bass are still fair to slow in responding. Real Deal Custom Tackle jigs in Texas Craw, Voodoo, or Okeechobee Spice colors and Magnum Tubes in pumpkinseed/chartreuse, black/blue tail, or black neon with rattles, Rat-L-Traps, and slow moving crankbaits have been taking random bass on points and in creek channels. Key seems to be finding water temps that are 3-5º warmer than surrounding areas, and clearer water with the current conditions.

The clearest water you can find away from river flow has been the best method over the past few weeks. Bass are still hiding out in the deeper sections of creek channels, holding tight to cover, but have been randomly hitting slow moving crankbaits & Rat-L-Traps over the past few weeks. The further from Little River current and heavy stain water; and in deeper sections of creeks over the past couple weeks, will produce random Largemouths.

Large 1oz size Rat-L-Traps worked much slower and deflecting off stumps and timber, deeper in the creek channels, over the past few weeks, have been taking some Largemouths. Best colors over the past few weeks have been Toledo Gold, Red Shad, Red Shad Zombie, or Pumpkinseed, around 8-12 feet depth creek channel swings, deflecting off stumps in the clearest water you can locate away from muddy water or Little River current.

Locating water temps 2-5 degrees warmer on sunny days, seems to be key in locating bass in a feeding mood over the past few weeks. Large flats near deeper creek channels with stumps and timber will hold a few Largemouths on bright sunny days where the water will warm substantially over the mid-day hours as much as 8 degrees. Largemouths hiding near lay downs, cypress trees, stumps and timber will randomly react and smack a chartreuse/black Bomber Flat A slow moving crank bait, a slow wobbling Rat-L-Trap in Toledo Gold, or a Magnum tube in black and blue. Key is finding these warmer water areas on sunny days for the most aggressive bite this time of year.

White Bass: No Report.

Crappie: Slow and random, few crappie were caught in 9-12' depth creek channels with deep cypress trees on red/white jigs this week.

Cats: Few catfishermen out this week, no report.

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

Surface temps as of Monday, 17 Feb are ranging 44ºF early to 50ºF range, depending on rain, wind, incoming fresh water, location, and time of day.

Lake level as of Monday is currently is 259.80 mfsl, and falling with river current, which is approx 7 inches above normal conservation pool. Normal consv. pool is 259.20 feet. Discharge rate was around 2800 CFS on Monday. The tailwater level as of Monday was at 231.20 mfsl.

Clarity and visibility as of Monday improved slightly. As of Monday on main lake structure away from current, clarity & visibility ranges approx 5-8 inches at best. Cottonshed and Saline in the northeast section of the lake is muddy. Little River's visibility ranges 4-5 inches depending on location and current. The oxbow's clarity also began clearing over the weekend ranging approx 12-15 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,