The Overall Picture:

As of Monday, 12 Jan, the lake level is approx 16 inches above normal conservation pool and falling. There is increased current of Little River with the gates releasing around 15,762 CFS and heavy debris fields of trees, limbs, and broken vegetation holding debris. Use extreme caution during low light and other navigation. Water temps continued dropping over the past week. Navigation is considered hazardous for Little River, as of Monday. Several river buoy markers are missing in Little River, use caution during navigation at low light conditions.

Surface temps as of Monday, are ranging approx 37ºF early to 42ºF range, depending on location.

Lake level is currently is 260.5 ft-msl, with increased river current. Normal consv. pool is 259.20 feet. Discharge rate near 15,762 CFS. Tailwater level is 241.42. Clarity and visibility is heavy stain to muddy in most areas on main lake and Little River.

As of Monday on main lake structure away from current, clarity & visibility ranges approx 2-5 inches. Cottonshed and northeast section of the lake is heavy stain from recent high winds. Little River's visibility ranges 1-5 inches depending on location and current. The oxbow's clarity is stained, ranging approx 8-10 inches depth of visibility depending on location. Little River above McGuire oxbow is muddy. Clarity and visibility can change dramatically on Millwood in just a few hours with high winds, rain, or thunderstorms.

The Details:

Largemouth Bass: the Bass have been lethargic and slow over the past couple weeks with the colder night time low temperatures, increased current, and muddy water conditions.

Bass are slightly more aggressive during the warmest time of the day, typically 11am-3pm, hitting very slowly moving target crankbaits and large, 3/4oz War Eagle Spinnerbaits. Bomber and XCalibur cranks in Ghost, Tennessee Shad, and Citrus will get slow bites during the warmer days. Clear water seemed to be their preferred hang out, in the back of McGuire. Crankbaits had to be moved erratic and slow to get bit, but they were more aggressive before the water temps got colder.

Real Deal Kustom Tackle jigs in Black/Blue, or Texas Craw will get a few random reactions from some decent keeper size Largemouths as long as they are hopped slowly with a big pork chunk or big plastic craw, around stumps in deeper water. Using a black/blue flake Larew Hawg Craw trailer or Berkley Craw Fatty on either skirt color appears not to make any difference. Pitching the jigs to cypress trees in 9-12 feet depth in close proximity to flats and creek bends. Hopping rather than crawling the jigs seem to draw more reaction strikes.

Vertical jigging Johnson chrome/blue Splinter Spoons, Thinfisher, or Cordell jigging spoons with bucktails, have been taking some just keeper sized fish by vertical jigging standing timber in 10-17 feet depth ranges, close to or in deeper water standing timber.

Magnum size 3" to 4" big tubes and gizzits with rattles continue to get a reaction on cypress knees in 9-12 feet depth in backs of the oxbows where you can find any clearer water sections. Black/blue tail, smoke/black/red flake, and pumpkinseed/chartreuse tail colors continue to be best color selections.

White Bass: were hitting the cranks before the last cold front, and jigging spoons, but have not been found again over the past 2 weeks.

Crappie: were beginning to stack vertically in planted brush before the recent 3 foot rise and muddy current. Bite has disappeared with the muddy water.

Cats: improved w/ the current increase of Little River this week. Best selections were homemade blood bait, cut shad or buffalo, and chicken hearts on trot lines about 12-14 feet deep in heavy current and outside bends of Little River.

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


Surface temps as of Monday, 12 Jan currently range 37ºF to 42ºF later in the day under full sun.

As of Monday, 12 Jan, Millwood Lake level is approx 16 inches above normal conservation pool and falling. There is increased current in Little River with the gates releasing around 15,762 CFS with heavy debris fields Use extreme caution during low light or other navigation. Water temps continue dropping over the past week. Navigation is considered hazardous caution for Little River. There are a few river buoys missing in Little River.

Lake level is currently is 260.5 mfsl, with increased river current. Normal consv. pool is 259.20 feet. Discharge rate around 15,762 CFS. Tailwater level currently 241.42 ft-msl.

Clarity and visibility is much worse over the past week, in most areas on main lake and Little River from recent thunderstorms and high wind. As of Monday on main lake structure away from current, clarity & visibility ranges approx 2-5 inches. Cottonshed and northeast section of the lake are muddy. Little River's visibility ranges 1-5 inches depending on location and current. The oxbow's clarity continue improving away from current, ranging approx 8-10 inches depth of visibility depending on location. Little River above McGuire oxbow is 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 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, boat safely, be courteous, wear your life jacket, kill switch, & we'll see you on the lake........