The Overall Picture:

As of Monday, 24 Feb, the lake level is approx 3.5 inches above normal conservation pool and falling. There is reduced current of Little River with the gates releasing around 1200 CFS as of Monday. Water temps jumped over the past week. There were good numbers of fishermen on the lake over the past week. Lake level has dropped slightly over the past few days.

Surface temps as of Monday, 24 Feb are ranging 50ºF early to 57ºF range, depending on rain, wind, incoming fresh water, location, and time of day. With the cold nights and cold rain this week, we are expecting the prespawn conditions to diminish from current trend, more especially if surface temps and water on the flats drop back out of the 50º range over several consecutive nights.

Lake level as of Monday, is currently is 259.49 mfsl, and falling with river current, which is approx 4 inches above normal conservation pool. Normal consv. pool is 259.20 feet. Discharge rate as of Monday was around 1200 CFS. As of Monday the tailwater level was 227.03 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 8-10 inches. Cottonshed and northeast section of the lake is still muddy. Little River's visibility ranges 5-8 inches depending on location and current. The oxbow's clarity is ranging approx 15-20 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: This past week, we continue seeing a rise in water temperature, but Bass are still fair to slow in responding. Magnum Tubes in pumpkinseed/chartreuse, black/blue tail, or black neon with rattles, plastic lizards, 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 5-8º warmer than surrounding areas, and clearer water with the current conditions. With the cold nights and cold rain this week, we are expecting the prespawn conditions to diminish from current trend, more especially if surface temps and water on the flats drop back out of the 50º range over several nights.

The clearest water you can find away from river flow has been the best method over the past few weeks. Bass are beginning to roam onto flats and spawning grounds, out of the creek channels, yet still holding tight to cover. Rat-L-Traps, Salty Rat Tails, Yum Dingers and plastic lizards, tubes, and jigs over the past few week, have been the go to baits. The further from Little River current and heavy stain water; and in deeper sections of creeks over the past couple weeks, will produce best Largemouths. Cordell Red Fins, Smithwick Rouges, and hard jerk baits are taking a few good size Bass in south Hickory pockets of the area of main lake and the Millwood State Park.

Tournament on Saturday on Millwood this past week gave up a big bass weight of 10.59.

Large 1oz size Rat-L-Traps worked much slower and deflecting off stumps and timber, deeper in the creek channels, over the past few week are still catching Largemouths. Best colors over the past few weeks have been Toledo Gold, Red Shad, Red Shad Zombie, or Pumpkinseed, around 4-8 feet depth flats near 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 plastic lizard in black, purple, and blue. Key is finding these warmer water areas on sunny days for the most aggressive bite this time of year. Salty Rat tails and Yum Dingers were catching some random bass over the past few days.

White Bass: Fishing above State Highway 71 bridge for whites/hybrids are beginning to show up. Points along Cossatot inflow ditch and creek channels protruding into Little River were giving up a few Whites over the weekend on shad colored Bomber and XCalibur crankbaits, chrome/blue or Smokey Joe Rat-L-Traps. Annual migration to spawning grounds for the Whites are not yet full blown, but perhaps only a week or two away.

Crappie: Slow and random, few crappie were caught in 12-14' depth creek channels with deep cypress trees on jigs this week.

Cats: Blues were beginning to respond as well to the warmer water over the past weekend. Channel cats and blues were caught on trot lines placed in 10-15 feet of depth along outer swings of Little River.

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

Surface temps as of Monday, 24 Feb are ranging 50ºF early to 57ºF range, depending on rain, wind, incoming fresh water, location, and time of day.

Lake level as of Monday is currently is 259.49 mfsl, and falling with river current, which is approx 4 inches above normal conservation pool. Normal consv. pool is 259.20 feet. Discharge rate was around 1200 CFS on Monday. The tailwater level as of Monday was at 227.03 mfsl.

Clarity and visibility as of Monday improved slightly. As of Monday on main lake structure away from current, clarity & visibility ranges approx 8-10 inches. Cottonshed and Saline in the northeast section of the lake is muddy. Little River's visibility ranges 5-8 inches depending on location and current. The oxbow's clarity also began clearing over the weekend ranging approx 15-20 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,