The Overall Picture:

As of Monday, 23 Nov, the lake level is approx 4.8 inches above normal conservation pool and falling. There is increased current of Little River with the gates releasing around 10,114 CFS as of Monday. Water temps dropped over the past week. Navigation considered normal, use caution with increased current in Little River and watch for floating debris.

Surface temps as of Monday, 23 Nov are ranging 50ºF early to 59ºF range, depending on rain, wind, incoming fresh water, location, and time of day.

Lake level as of Monday, is currently is 259.60 mfsl, and falling with increased river current. Normal consv. pool is 259.20 feet. Discharge rate as of Monday was 10,114 CFS. As of Monday the tailwater level was 236.06 mfsl.

Clarity and visibility worsened over the past week, in most areas on main lake. As of Monday on main lake structure away from current, clarity & visibility ranges approx 3-8 inches. Little River's visibility ranges 3-5 inches depending on location and current. The oxbow's clarity improved over the weekend, ranging approx 12-20 inches depth of visibility 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 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: Best bet over the past few weeks continue to be Crankbaits, Chatterbaits, and Rat-L-Trap Echo 1.75 Squarebills. Best colors are Firetiger, Chartreuse Shiner, Gold, and Red Craw. Real Deal Custom Tackle jigs continue taking some keeper bass in the 3-5lb class using Texas Craw, Voodoo, or Okeechobee Spice colors. Big, over-sized magnum Tubes in black neon, pumpkinseed/chartreuse with rattles, and slow moving chatterbaits continue working. Large, slow-rolling War Eagle spinner baits in firetiger, peach, or Spot Remover are working around dying or dead lily pads.

Likewise, Bass Assassin Shads are still working very well around remaining vegetation and lily pads, catching nice 3-5 pound Largemouths. Best colors over the past week or so have been the Gold Pepper Shiner, Grey Ghost and Rainbow Shad. Working the Bass Assassin Shads in and around vegetation and in back of live lily pad stands in 2-5 feet depths using light wire hook and bumping over the pads and falling with a pause in between pads and letting it settle slowly.

Tail spinners such as Rat-L-Traps Spin Traps, Little Cleos, Little Georges, rooster tails, and Rocket Shads are still catching all species of Bass, slightly deeper. Best colors of tail spinner hard baits like the Little Georges continue to be white, chartreuse, or a combination of those. Best colors of the Rooster Tails continue to be white/red or red/chrome combinations. Chrome and blue Johnson Jigging spoons on points with timber or stumps continue taking a few bass over the past week, out of river current in breaks where huge schools of bass are following and chasing shad.

Slow moving squarebill crankbaits and Rat-L-Traps worked slower out of current in creek channel bends, deflecting off stumps and timber are still taking nice size 2-5 pound bass in the clearest water you can find away from river flow. Recent daytime highs in the 60's and lows in the 50's continue to improved fish metabolism and feeding this week. Bass are still hitting the crankbaits, just slower and they are locating in the clearest water you can find, in the outer turns and deeper sections of creeks over the past week.

Cordell Red Fins in gold G-finish or ghost, Smithwick Rouges in clown or gold, and suspending jerk baits worked very slowly were catching some nice fish over the past couple weeks. Large 1oz size Rat-L-Traps worked much slower and deeper in the creek channels, over the past few weeks, have been taking some 3-4 pound Largemouths. Best colors with the improved water clarity away from Little River current over the past week have been Toledo Gold, Red Shad, Millwood Magic and chrome/blue, around 6-9 feet depth creek channel swings, deflecting off stumps.

Bomber and XCalibur crankbaits worked slowly, in Citruese, Threadfin Shad, or Firetiger continue working for the Largemouths & Kentucky Bass, but much slower. Bomber Flat A's in Firetiger, or Black/Chartreuse are also catching Bass, but the trick continues to be working very slowly and deflecting off stumps in the creeks. Locating water temps 2-4 degrees cooler, seems to be key in locating bass in a feeding mood over the past couple weeks.

White Bass: Schools of Whites were found again in front of the 2nd entrance to Mud Lake and Horseshoe Lake up Little River. These schooling Whites have been very aggressive on the crankbaits, chatterbaits, and squarebills from 5-9 feet deep.

Crappie: disappeared with all the recent inflow of muddy water along Little River over their planted brush pile condos.

Cats: Cats improved again on trot lines along Little River with the increased current. Outer bends, creek mouths with flow into them, btween 8-10 feet of depth using chicken livers, hearts, gizzards and cut shad or buffalo are working.

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

Surface temps as of Monday, 23 Nov are ranging 50ºF early to 59ºF range, depending on rain, wind, incoming fresh water, location, and time of day.

Lake level as of Monday is currently is 259.60 mfsl, and falling with increased river current, which is approx 4.8 inches above normal conservation pool. Normal consv. pool is 259.20 feet. Discharge rate was around 10,114 CFS on Monday. The tailwater level as of Monday was at 236.06 mfsl.

Clarity and visibility as of Monday much improved, more especially the oxbows. As of Monday on main lake structure away from current, clarity & visibility ranges approx 3-8 inches. Little River's visibility ranges 3-5 inches depending on location and current. The oxbow's clarity also began clearing over the weekend ranging approx 12-20 inches depth of visibility 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, hope to see you on the lake,