• Millwood Lake Fishing Report - AR

    Millwood Lake Guide Service
    (870) 772-6840 http://www.millwoodguideservice.com/index.html MillwoodLakeGSvc@aol.com
  • Millwood Lake Guide Service has been featured numerous times on the popular TV show Fishing Country with Charlie Pack. We guide for Largemouth bass, White bass, Kentucky bass, and Crappie. Since 1990, Millwood Lake Guide Service has supported and worked with Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and The US Army Corps of Engineers regularly, Catch and Release Foundation, Black Bass Federation and Restoration Projects

  • Millwood Lake Fishing Report - AR

    The Overall Picture:


    NAVIGATION REMAINS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS ON LITTLE RIVER WITH INCREASED CURRENT, HEAVY DEBRIS, TREES, LOGS, LIMBS, GRASS MATS, ETC. USE EXTREME CAUTION DURING NAVIGATION ON LITTLE RIVER THIS WEEK!!

    As of Monday, 19 May, the lake level is approx 11 inches above normal conservation pool and falling. There is much increased current of Little River with the gates releasing around 17,650 CFS as of Monday. Water temps rose slightly over the past week. Lake level has risen dramatically with all the recent thunderstorms past 2 weeks, and navigation is hazardous with huge amounts of debris coming down Little River.


    Surface temps as of Monday, 19 May are ranging 68ºF early to 80ºF range, depending on rain, wind, incoming fresh water, location, and time of day.

    Lake level as of Monday, is currently is 260.15 mfsl, with hazardous river current and large debris fields, which is approx 11 inches above normal conservation pool. Normal consv. pool is 259.20 feet. Discharge rate as of Monday was increased to over 17600 CFS. As of Monday the tailwater level jumped up to over 244.5 mfsl with increase in discharge at the dam with all gates open. Navigation is hazardous with large limbs, logs, grass mats and debris in river current. Continue to use extreme caution during navigation on Little River and Millwood again this week.


    Clarity and visibility is poor in most areas on main lake, Little River clarity drastically reduced, as well. As of Monday on main lake structure away from current, clarity & visibility ranges approx 0 inches and muddy. Cottonshed and northeast section of the lake is heavy stained to muddy. Little River's visibility ranges 0 inches depending on location and current. The oxbow's clarity currently ranging approx 5-6 inches depth of visibility depending on location. Little River above McGuire oxbow is very muddy. 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: Prior to the rapid rise of the lake over the past week to 10 days, the Largemouth Bass up to 3 or 4 pounds were fair to good. Conditions and water clarity worsened with recent thunderstorms and influx of runnoff. The increase of current and muddy water has scattered a lot of the Bass.


    Large worms, jigs, Rat-L-Traps, frogs, and Bass Assassin Shads were the go-to baits, taking bass on flats with stumps, and in creek channels before the rise over the past week. Finding 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, Bass Assassin Shads, 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 several weeks have been 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. Lots of 2-3 pound bass are biting and reacting to the frogs and various top water baits around pads and vegetation.


    Best colors Rat-L-Traps working over the past couple weeks prior to the influx of stormwater runnoff that will get bit were Millwood Magic, clear Holographic, or Creole Craw away from muddy current, and back in the oxbows around 4-8 feet depth flats near creek channel swings, deflecting off stumps in the clearest water you can locate.


    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 have scattered with the recent influx of current and debris in the river.


    Cats: Blues and channel cats were biting good in the current in Little River over the past week on trot lines set approx 10-12 feet deep in creek mouths and outer bends of the river. Best baits were cut shad, buffalo, chicken livers, and stink balls on trot lines. YoYos were taking some 2-4 pound blues in Mud Lake oxbow up Little River using live shiners last week under cypress trees in 8-12 feet depths.


    Lake Level & River Conditions Report


    NAVIGATION REMAINS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS ON LITTLE RIVER WITH INCREASED CURRENT, HEAVY DEBRIS, TREES, LOGS, LIMBS, GRASS MATS, ETC. USE EXTREME CAUTION DURING NAVIGATION ON LITTLE RIVER THIS WEEK!!


    Surface temps as of Monday, 19 May are ranging 68ºF early to 80ºF range, depending on rain, wind, incoming fresh water, location, and time of day.


    Lake level as of Monday is currently is 260.15 mfsl, and falling with increased river current, which is approx 11 inches above normal conservation pool. Normal consv. pool is 259.20 feet. Discharge rate was around 17,650 CFS on Monday. The tailwater level as of Monday jumped several feet with the increased discharge, and up to 244.5 mfsl.


    Clarity and visibility much worse as of Monday. On main lake structure away from current, clarity & visibility ranges approx 0 inches. Cottonshed and Saline in the northeast section of the lake is heavily stained to muddy. Little River's visibility muddy and hazardous navigation conditions exist. Lots of debris, logs, trees, grass mats, and limbs are coming down Little River in the heavy current. The oxbow's clarity also worsened and ranging approx 5-6 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, see you on the lake........ and BE CAREFUL out there!
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