The Overall Picture:

As of Monday, 01 June, the lake had begun receding, USACE closed gates off in a holding pattern awaiting on the Red River system to fully crest, and is now approx 17.2 feet above normal conservation pool, rising, and essentially, the USACE has closed the lake to boating with all USACE boat ramps and campgrounds flooded and closed. With the additional rainfall this week, and the dam in a hold pattern, it should continue rising this week.

Expected crest is estimated 17 June or sooner, or around 280-281 ft-msl, which is approx 20 feet above normal elevation pool. Water is inside parking lots, most ramps, and the Millwood State Park as well as other USACE campgrounds and boat ramps are flooded and closed. There is virtually no current of Little River with the gates releasing around 254 CFS Monday. Water temps stable over the past week.

Navigation is considered off limits by the USACE and The Little River County. Little River County Judge released press statements that closed Jack's Aisle and Yarborough to boating traffic. Little River County Judge states that boaters going out on the lake will be fined if emergency or rescue operations are called upon. Several river buoy markers are missing in Little River. Navigation on Millwood or Little River with these conditions is discouraged by authorities.

Surface temps as of Monday, are ranging approx 68ºF early to 75ºF range, depending on location, wind, and sun.

Lake level is currently is 276.44 ft-msl, which continues to rise, almost 10 feet since last week, and approx 17 feet above normal. Normal consv. pool is 259.20 feet. Discharge rate near 254CFS as of Monday. Tailwater level 249.5, has also risen approx 5 feet over the past week. Clarity and visibility is improving to heavy stain, some areas are clearing while holding. Millwood State Park and all USACE campgrounds remain closed until further notice and water recedes, but water is very clear in the State Park region of the lake. Cresting is estimated approximately 17 June around 280-281 ft-msl.

As of Monday on main lake structure away from current, clarity & visibility ranges approx 6-12 inches. Majority of main lake is heavy stained. 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: Over the past couple weeks, if you were able to get out and into some of the backwater oxbows and pockets off the main lake, the bite was fair to good. We were catching nice Largemouth Bass in pockets along the golf course, and the Millwood State Park on a variety of lures. War Eagle spinnerbaits in Spot Remover, white/chartreuse, and Bleeding Peach were working. Buzzbaits in white and chartreuse w/ red or orange were taking early morning Largemouths.

Chatterbaits, Bass Assassin Shads, Lizards and 10" Berkley Power worms, frogs, and Real Deal Custom Tackle jigs in black/blue/purple or Texas Craw were working around the Millwood State Park and out of any river current.

Squarebill cranks and Rat-L-Traps were beginning to take a few keeper size 15-18" Largemouths week before ramp closings, also up river in the oxbows of McGuire and Horseshoe Lake areas.

Magnum, 4" gizits tubes in black neon or large, bulky craws texas rigged, and top water frogs were also taking bass in the same pockets around south Hickory and the golf course in 4-9 feet depth around cypress trees.

Warrior Baits Buzz Frogs were catching nice bass around lily pads, early, along with the buzzbaits

White Bass: no report.

Crappie: were beginning to improve away from Little River current around cypress trees in 6-9 feet of depth on Southern Pro tubes and jigs.

Cats: were back in action last week on trot lines along Little River current and in creek mouths where current is moving through. Best bait over the past week has been spoiled chicken livers, Charlie and homemade blood baits.
}><(((º> Lake Level & River Conditions Report <º)))><{


Surface temps as of Monday, 01 June currently range 68ºF to 75ºF later in the day under full sun.


As of Monday, 01 June, the lake had begun receding, USACE closed gates off in a holding pattern awaiting on the Red River system to fully crest, and is now approx 17.2 feet above normal conservation pool, rising, and essentially, the USACE has closed the lake to boating with all boat ramps and campgrounds closed. With the additional rainfall this week, it should continue rising this week.

Expected crest is estimated 17 June or sooner, or around 280-281 ft-msl, which is approx 20 feet above normal elevation pool. Water is inside parking lots most ramps, and the Millwood State Park as well as other USACE campgrounds and boat ramps are flooded and closed. There is virtually no current of Little River with the gates releasing around 254 CFS Monday. Water temps stable over the past week.

Navigation is considered off limits by the USACE and Little River County. Little River County Judge released press statements that boaters going out on the lake will be fined if emergency or rescue operations are called upon. Several river buoy markers are missing in Little River. Navigation on Millwood or Little River with these conditions is discouraged by authorities.

Surface temps as of Monday, are ranging approx 68ºF early to 75ºF range, depending on location, wind, and sun.

Lake level is currently is 276.44 ft-msl, which continues to rise, almost 10 feet since last week, and approx 17 feet above normal. Normal consv. pool is 259.20 feet. Discharge rate near 254CFS as of Monday. Tailwater level 249.5, has also risen approx 5 feet over the past week. Clarity and visibility is improving to heavy stain, some areas are clearing while holding. Millwood State Park and all USACE campgrounds remain closed until further notice and water recedes, but water is very clear in the State Park region of the lake. Cresting is estimated approximately 17 June around 280-281 ft-msl.

As of Monday on main lake structure away from current, clarity & visibility ranges approx 6-12 inches. Majority of main lake is heavy stained. Clarity and visibility can change dramatically on Millwood in just a few hours with high winds, rain, thunderstorms, or increased current.
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, wherever you decide to fish this week.......