The Overall Picture:

As of Monday, 18 May, lake is rising rapidly, and is approx 9.8 feet, almost 10 feet, above normal conservation pool, rising, and hazardous. There is increased current of Little River with the gates releasing around 36,250 CFS Monday. Water temps stable over the past week. Navigation is considered extremely hazardous for Little River and the lake with this much current, with trees, logs, grass mats, and wide debris fields coming downriver in extremely heavy current. Several river buoy markers are missing in Little River with heavy current. Use extreme caution in any navigation on Millwood or Little River with these conditions!

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

Lake level is currently is 268.97 ft-msl, which is right at 10 feet above normal, with heavy increased river current. Normal consv. pool is 259.20 feet. Discharge rate near 36,254 CFS as of Monday. Tailwater level 248.87 and rising. Clarity and visibility is mostly muddy, most areas of the lake. Cresting of the lake maybe widely estimated approx near 270-272 ft-msl this week which is approx 12 feet above normal but is strictly an estimate, and that is based on no additional rainfall.

As of Monday on main lake structure away from current, clarity & visibility ranges approx 0-3 inches. Entire lake is heavy stained and muddy. Little River's visibility ranges 0-3 inches depending on location and current. The oxbow's clarities have muddied up w/ the recent rapid rise of almost 10 feet in past week. 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: Prior to the 10 foot rise over the past week, most Largemouths have already finished and are post-spawn over the past several weeks. A few random late bloomers were still near bedding areas, prior to the recent lake rise. Lake is dangerous for most any navigation in the current conditions, and navigation is extremely hazardous with large trees, logs and debris in heavy current.

Majority of Bass were moving from spawning flats to creek channels and ditches, and a variety of lures were working randomly. Swim baits, chatterbaits, Rat-L-Traps, 5" Bass Assassin Shads, frogs, and lizards were working over the past few weeks prior to the rapid rise and heavy current.

Berkley Pit Bosses in black/blue or blue disco, big magnum, 4" gizits tubes in black neon or purple smoke, and slow moving Rat-L-Traps were taking bass that are running in and out of spawning areas and in creek channels and ditches before the recent muddy inflow and 7 foot lake level rise. Real Deal Custom Tackle jigs in Texas Craw, Voodoo, and Purple Smoke Candy were catching 3-4 pound Largemouths, in 3-8 feet of depth adjacent to flats where spawning activities were finishing.

South Hickory Creek and pockets near the golf course were good locations to target Largemouths over the past couple weeks, down to Millwood State Park. Squarebill crankbaits, chatterbaits, and 10 bulky worms have been working around isolated cover, stumps and vegetation, and were all good choices in 3-10 feet of water in contact with wood and cover.

Buzz baits were beginning to work in Mud Lake and Horseshoe around new lily pad growth. Best colors over the past few weeks were firecracker, spot remover, and bleeding bream. Yum Dingers in watermelon red were catching some nice bass in McGuire prior to the rapid 10 foot rise. Ole Monster 10" and 12" bulky worms and Berkley Power worms were working in black/blue flake, or black grape, or june bug.

5" Bass Assassin Shads were working in any clean water you could find (which is almost non-existent) away from current around lily pads and vegetation. Gold Pepper Shiner is best color in stained water, and were catching 3-5 pound Largemouths, moving in and out of the spawning areas using a light wire Rig-N Hook. Swimming a 5" Bang Die Dapper in Houdini or Grey Ghost, or a 6" Turbo Shad in Black Shad or Crystal Shad on a swim bait hook were taking decent 2-4 pound bass around cypress trees, knees, and vegetation in 5-9 feet of depth.

Warrior Baits Buzz Frogs were catching nice bass around new lily pad growth, early until the sun is up high before the rapid lake rise the past couple weeks.

White Bass: no report.

Crappie: no report.

Cats: no report.
}><(((º> Lake Level & River Conditions Report <º)))><{


Surface temps as of Monday, 18 May currently range 67ºF to 75ºF later in the day under full sun.

As of Monday, Millwood elevation is approx 10 feet above normal conservation pool and rapidly rising. There is increased current in Little River with the gates releasing around 36,254 CFS on Monday. Navigation in Little River considered extremely hazardous with the increased current, logs, trees, and lots of debris in the heavy current. There are a few river buoys missing in Little River. Navigation is not recommended.

Lake level rose again over 8 more feet in past 7 days, bringing the current pool elevation up to 10 feet above normal conservation pool, and currently is 268.97 mfsl. Normal consv. pool is 259.20 feet. Discharge rate around 36,250 CFS as of Monday. Tailwater level likewise rose significantly, and currently is 248.87 ft-msl as of Monday below the spillway.

Clarity and visibility in most areas on main lake and Little River muddy mostly lake wide. As of Monday on main lake structure away from current, clarity & visibility ranges approx 1-3 inches. Little River's visibility ranges 1-3 inches depending on location and current. The oxbow's clarity turned to muddy as well, away from any river current also. Cresting is widely estimated to range from 270-272 ft-msl late this week or early next week, which would be approx 12-14 feet above normal, but is strictly an estimate. 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

Mike Siefert