• 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:


    As of Monday, 20 April, lake level rose to just over 4.6 inches above normal conservation pool and now falling. There is increased current of Little River with the gates releasing around 11,650 CFS Monday. Water temps rose over the past week. Navigation is considered cautious for Little River, as of Monday. Several river buoy markers are missing in Little River with current.


    Surface temps as of Monday, are ranging approx 67ºF early to 75ºF range, depending on location, wind, and sun.


    Lake level is currently is 259.58 ft-msl, with heavy increased river current. Normal consv. pool is 259.20 feet. Discharge rate near 11,650 CFS as of Monday. Tailwater level 233.60 and rising. Clarity and visibility is considered stained, most areas of the lake. Up Little River oxbows still fair clarity. Saline River and Cottonshed areas still muddy inflows.


    As of Monday on main lake structure away from current, clarity & visibility ranges approx 8-10 inches. Entire lake is stained, but Cottonshed, Okay, and east to Saratoga from Saline River inflow remains muddy. Little River's visibility ranges 9-10 inches depending on location and current. The oxbow's clarities still stained in places, continues to improve, ranging approx 20-24 inches depth of visibility more or less, depending on location. Clarity and visibility can change dramatically on Millwood in just a few hours with high winds, rain, thunderstorms, or increased current.


    The Details:


    Largemouth Bass: the Bass activity levels improved again over the past week with increased day time high temps. Bass continue spawing in full swing, numbers of big Bass have already finished and are post-spawn, over the past week with improved surface temperatures. Male and female bass have been noted on beds, coming off beds, or building beds in shallow flats.


    Bass are best from around 10am-3pm, and a slow moving, swim bait, chatterbait, Rat-L-Traps, 5" Bass Assassin Shads, frogs, and lizards continue working over the past few weeks. Over the past week, bass energy levels continued to improved, and were good on a variety of lures presented slow and methodical. Chatterbaits in black / blue colors remain good this week, a white swimming jig, magnum size lizards or creatures, in black, blue, or purple, and slow moving Rat-L-Traps continue taking bass that are running in and out of spawning areas and in creek channels and ditches. Best color of Rat-L-Traps over the past few weeks has been working in creek channels and adjacent flats next to stumps, from 1-5 feet of depth continue to be crawfish patterns in red, brown, and orange combinations.


    Clearer water seems to continue to be their preferred hang out in protected coves and pockets along the main lake from south Hickory to Millwood State Park. Crankbaits, swimming jigs, or soft plastic swim baits, and chatterbaits moved erratic; stop and go, around isolated cover, stumps and vegetation, were the best bets to draw reactions and get bit, but most active during the warmest period of the high sun over the past couple weeks.


    4" Texas rigged Magnum Tubes w/rattles have been getting bit in the golf course pockets next to stumps, cypress trees, and scattered new lily pad growth this week. Best colors are pumpkinseed/chartreuse or black and blue tails.


    War Eagle Spinnerbaits white/chartreuse or spot remover continue to catch 2-3 pound Largemouths, in stained water around cypress trees, dead lily pad stems, and grass.


    5" Bass Assassin Shads in Salt-n-Pepper Silver Phantom in clearer water, and Gold Pepper Shiner in stained water continue catching 3-5 pound Largemouths, moving in and out of the spawning areas using a light wire Rig-N Hook. Swimming a Bang Die Dapper in Houdini or Grey Ghost, or a 6" Turbo Shad in Black Shad or Crystal Shad on a swim bait hook are taking nice Largemouths around shallow bedding areas. Jingle Bugs in watermelon-red, black/blue tail, or Okeechobee Craw are working around wood and stumps and standing timber in bedding areas and on beds if you can see them in the stained water.


    Warrior Baits Buzz Frogs continue catching shallow males from 2-4 pounds in 1-2 feet of water around wood and grass patches. Rig your frogs with a 3/0 or 4/0 wide body Rig-n-hook or double upturned frog hook, and throw into the heaviest cover available. Grass, new lily pad growth, and tall standing reeds are best areas to get a frog bite. Hesitation remains the key, until you feel the bass pull bait and line from you before setting the hook, to ensure good catch and hook-up ratios.


    White Bass: no report this week.


    Crappie: have began moving into cypress knees and trees for their spawning cycles, and were faily consistent over the past week in 2-4 feet depth on live shiners and Southern Pro Hustler tubes in white/blue combinations.

    Cats: continue biting good in recent days w/ increased current of Little River, on trot lines using chicken hearts, livers, or gizzards and cut shad and buffalo over the past week with trot lines set between 9-12 feet of depth.


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



    Surface temps as of Monday, 20 Apr currently range 67ºF to 75ºF later in the day under full sun.


    As of Monday, Millwood elevation is approx 3.8 inches above normal conservation pool and falling. There is increased current in Little River with the gates releasing around 11,600 CFS on Monday. Water temps improved over the past week. Navigation in Little River considered cautious. There are a few river buoys missing in Little River.


    Lake level rose and currently is 259.58 mfsl. Normal consv. pool is 259.20 feet. Discharge rate around 11,600 CFS. Tailwater level at 233.60 ft-msl as of Monday below the spillway.


    Clarity and visibility in most areas on main lake and Little River stained mostly lake wide, however, east side near Saline inflow to Okay and Cottonshed, is muddy from river inflow. As of Monday on main lake structure away from current, clarity & visibility ranges approx 8-10 inches. Little River's visibility ranges 9-10 inches depending on location and current. The oxbow's clarity has began to improve, away from current, ranging approx 20-24 inches depth of visibility as of Monday, 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, boat safely, be courteous, wear your life jacket, kill switch, & we'll see you on the lake........

    MS
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