The Overall Picture:

As of Monday, 15 Feb, the lake level continues falling, is approx 6 inches above normal conservation pool, and falling. Consistent current remains in Little River with the gates discharge level around 7,500 CFS as of Monday. Water temps slightly rose, over the past week. Navigation has improved, yet considered cautious this week with current. Use caution with current in Little River; watch for floating or lodged logs, debris fields, and subsurface obstructions! Surface temps as of Monday, are ranging 49ºF early to 55ºF range, depending on rain, wind, incoming fresh water, location, and time of day. Several boat ramps and parks campgrounds have re-opened from recent high water flooding. Some have not yet reopened and the Millwood State Park remains closed for repairs. There are numerous river buoys missing along Little River since the recent 12-15 foot rise last week.

Lake level as of Monday, is currently is 259.72 ft-msl, and falling with increased river current. Normal consv. pool is 259.20 ft-msl. As of Monday the tailwater level was falling, at 234.90 ft-msl.

Clarity and visibility improved slightly over the past week, in most areas on main lake from past few weeks w/ the reduction of current and dropping water levels beginning to settle out. As of Monday on main lake structure away from current, clarity & visibility ranges approx 8-15 inches. Little River's visibility is heavy stain to muddy depending on location and ranges from 4-6 inches depending on location and current. The oxbow's clarity ranging approx 20-30 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. Call the Millwood State Park at 870-898-2800.

The Details:

Largemouth Bass: The Bass improved their activity over the past week with the warmer days, and improving conditions. Recently, warming conditions have improved bass activity, and numerous nice bass have been caught in the 4-5 lb class over the past week with several in the 8-10 pound class. Best activity period continues to be during the warmest time of the day under full sun in 3-5 feet of water with good clarity. Best reactions over the past week have been on chatterbaits, spinnerbaits, and crankbaits.

During the warmest period of the day, typically 11am-3pm, chatterbaits in black/blue or Tx Craw, or Avocado colors with large thumping swimbait trailers, and War Eagle Spinnerbaits continue working in Hot Mouse, Spot Remover, and chartreuse/white colors. Real Deal Custom Tackle jig in Chilipepper, Grape Melon Wine, or Watermelon-Candy/Red with a black craw trailer continue working on sunny flats next to cypress trees and stumps close to creek channel swings. Echo 1.75 Squarebills in Chartreuse shiner, Gold, or sexy chrome will get a few random bites during the warmer days in flats close to deep water creek channel swings as well. Clearer water, again this week, seems to be their preferred hang out, furthest from Little River current. Deeper diving crankbaits and the jigs are working best in the creek channels for egg laden females that have not moved up onto the flats yet. The cranks had to be worked slow and deflecting off stumps and timber to get bit over the past couple weeks.

Black/blue tail, pumpkinseed/chartreuse tail, and plum colored lizards took a few good bass over the past few weeks near flats in the creek channels on stumps.

Swimming a Bang Die Dapper in Trickster, Houdini, Pumpkinseed/Chart belly colors continue working on a swim jig head or weighted swim bait belly hook rig. Working the swim baits in same areas on flats near cypress and in pockets of vegetation along edges of vegetation grass lines and dead lily pad stems approx 5-9 feet deep will pick up random, cruising, solitary bass in the 3-4 pound class.

Bang Fat Jobs are working, wacky rigged in the same areas as the Die Dappers, in blueberry, junebug, and watermelon/red&green glitter colors.

White Bass: Schools of Whites continue biting well between White Cliffs and 71 Bridge at Wilton. Backwater sloughs feeding Little River, just out of the main river current, were holding some good schools of whites over the past week. These Bass were hitting squarebill crankbaits and medium running cranks from 4-9 feet depths. These White Bass maybe getting ready to start their annual migration routes up Little River for the spawn.

Crappie: no report with the current as it exists in Little River.

Cats: Cats continue biting consistently over the past week with the current in Little River on trot lines using homemade blood bait, cut shad on trotlines set from 10-15 feet deep.

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

Surface temps as of Monday, 15 Feb are ranging 49ºF early to 55ºF range, depending on rain, wind, incoming fresh water, location, and time of day. Use caution during navigation, with current in Little River and draw at the dam. Debris fields, floating trees, logs and timber have been reduced by the slower current this week, but be cautious. Navigation is considered cautious with reduced current, limbs, logs, grass mats, and debris.

Lake level currently is 259.72 ft-msl, and with swift river current, which is approx 6 inches above normal conservation pool. Normal consv. pool is 259.20 ft-msl. Gate discharge rate around 7,500 CFS. The tailwater level is 234.90 ft-msl.

Clarity and visibility has much improved, more especially the oxbows. Main lake structure away from current, clarity & visibility ranges approx 8-15 inches. Little River's visibility ranges 4-6 inches depending on location and current. The oxbow's clarity currently ranging approx 20-30 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 or the Millwood State Park campground at 870-898-2800.

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,