The Overall Picture:

As of Monday, 05 May, the lake level is approx normal conservation pool and steady. There is reduced current of Little River with the gates releasing around 2000 CFS as of Monday. Water temps rose slightly over the past week. There were good numbers of fishermen on the lake over the past week. Lake level has almost reached normal pool last week, and only slightly above normal.

Surface temps as of Monday, 05 May are ranging 68ºF early to 76ºF range, depending on rain, wind, incoming fresh water, location, and time of day.

Lake level as of Monday, is currently is 259.22 mfsl, and steady with slight river current, which is approx normal conservation pool. Normal consv. pool is 259.20 feet. Discharge rate as of Monday was reduced to near 2000 CFS. As of Monday the tailwater level was 227.07 mfsl.

Clarity and visibility improved, slightly stained this week, in most areas on main lake, Little River clarity improved as well. As of Monday on main lake structure away from current, clarity & visibility ranges approx 10-15 inches. Cottonshed and northeast section of the lake is heavy stained to muddy. Little River's visibility ranges 10-15 inches depending on location and current. The oxbow's clarity currently ranging approx 24-36 inches depth of visibility depending on location. Little River above McGuire oxbow is improved. 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: Most of the Bass we are seeing this past week again, are post spawn. Largemouth Bass up to 3 or 4 pounds are fair to good. Conditions and water clarity improved and we are seeing bass pick up their feeding activity.

Large worms, jigs, Rat-L-Traps, frogs, and Bass Assassin Shads continue taking bass on flats with stumps, and in creek channels. Clearer water areas away from current in Little River are producing best reaction bites. Real Deal Custom Tackle jigs and Bass Assassin Shads were catching Largemouths in the 4-5 pound class over the past couple weeks and plastic frogs are beginning to draw reactions in the new pad growth.

The clearest water you can find away from river flow has been the best method 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 best activity and agressive reactions. Chatterbaits, Rat-L-Traps, 10 and 12" worms have been taking a few nice sized Bass in the oxbows up Little River.

Best colors of Real Deal Custom Tackle jigs over the past few weeks continue to be Texas Craw or Chilli Pepper colors with a Yum Wooly Bullee trailer. Bass Assassin Shads and plastic frogs continue catching nice bass in the oxbows over the past couple weeks in and around heavy vegetation lines and new lily pads beginning to bloom.

Best colors Rat-L-Traps working over the past week that will get bit are Millwood Magic, clear Holographic, or Creole Craw 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.

Salty Rat tails and Yum Dingers in watermelon red colors were catching some random bass over the past week. Large 10" or 12" Power worms in black grape, purple, or blue fleck colors, are all good choices over the past week or two.

White Bass: Whites/hybrids post spawn also and are still scattered in schools along Little River's oxbows and the river.

Crappie: Crappie continue improving in creek channels around cypress trees, on Blakemore Roadrunners, beetle spins, grubs and jigs. Best colors with the improved water clarity seem to be white, or smoke Cordell Paddletail Grubs.

Cats: No report.

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

Surface temps as of Monday, 05 May are ranging 68ºF early to 76ºF range, depending on rain, wind, incoming fresh water, location, and time of day.

Lake level as of Monday is currently is 259.22 mfsl, and steady with reduced river current, which is approx normal conservation pool. Normal consv. pool is 259.20 feet. Discharge rate was around 2000 CFS on Monday. The tailwater level as of Monday was at 227.07 mfsl.

Clarity and visibility much improved as of Monday. On main lake structure away from current, clarity & visibility ranges approx 10-15 inches. Cottonshed and Saline in the northeast section of the lake is heavily stained to muddy. Little River's visibility ranges 10-15 inches depending on location and current. The oxbow's clarity also began clearing over the weekend ranging approx 24-36 inches depth of visibility depending on location. Little River above McGuire oxbow is still muddy and lots of current. 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,