The Overall Picture:

As of Monday, 23 May, the lake level continues fluctuating, and is approximately 9 inches above normal conservation pool. Reduced current exists in Little River w/gate discharge around 4,000 CFS on Monday. Water temps slightly rose, over the past week. Navigation considered cautious this week. Surface temps as of Monday, are ranging 67ºF early to 77ºF later in the day, 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 and the Millwood State Park has reopened boat ramps, the marina, and one circle drive of campsites, and are back in operations now.

Lake level as of Monday, is currently is 259.96 ft-msl, and slowly falling with river current. Normal consv. pool is 259.20 ft-msl. As of Monday the tailwater level was also falling, at 232.57 ft-msl.

Clarity and visibility has slightly improved over the past week, in most areas on main lake from past few weeks fluctuating water levels and rapid 5 foot rise. As of Monday on main lake structure away from current, clarity & visibility ranges approx 6-10 inches. Little River's visibility is heavy stain depending on location and ranges from 5-8 inches depending on location and current. The oxbow's clarity is improving ranging approx 10-20 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. Call the Millwood State Park at 870-898-2800. Call the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission for an officer, biologist, or to report AGFC regulation violation at 800-482-9262.

The Details:

Largemouth Bass: The Bass feeding mechanism continues to improve to the more stable weather patterns & temperatures over the past week. Warmer days, sun, and more stable weather patterns have the bass in a feeding mood. Most Largemouth are now finishing up their annual spawning rituals, and majority are now post-spawn.

During the late morning, and throughout the afternoon, chatterbaits, crankbaits, and spinnerbaits are working in Spot Remover, Fire Tiger, and black and blue colors. Over the past week, the chatterbaits in black and blue, the spinnerbaits in Spot Remover and Fire Tiger, and big 10" worms in blue fleck and plum have been working well for Largemouths from 3 up to 5 pounds. Bang Die Dapper and Boss Shiner swim baits continue working this week with the water clarity improving, rigged on a swim bait belly hook using 3/16 or 3/8 oz weight. Best colors seem to be Pumpkinseed/Chartreuse Belly or Ice Breaker, and Shiner colors.

Bass Assassin Shads in Trickster, Native Shiner, Panhandle Moon, and Grey Ghost colors colors are catching nice 3-4 lb Largemouths in newly sprouting lily pad stems and shoots near cypress trees in the cleanest water you can find away from current in Little River. Fat Jobs are working wacky rig, up river in the oxbows in the same areas. Best colors of Fat Jobs over the past couple weeks continues to be Houdini and Blueberry. Lightest wire hook available works best.

Rat-L-Traps in Millwood Magic, Candy Craw, Sexy Sunfish, and Stumpknocker colors all are working on sunny days in creek channels deflecting off stumps and timber, around cypress trees/knees. Echo 1.75 squarebill crankbaits are working outside spawning flats where creek channel bends wind near the bank and out again. The Echo 1.75 crankbaits are catching good numbers of Largemouths and White Bass equally well. Best color of Echo 1.75 squarebills over the past week with stained, but improving water clarity have been the Ghost, Millwood Magic, or Gold Shad color patterns on cloudy days seem to draw best reaction.

Real Deal Custom Tackle jigs continue working for 3-5 pound Largemouths in 5-9 feet behind stumps along edges of Little River with the reduced current over the past week. Seems as if the current is positioning the Bass behind stumps and timber along the old river channel bank. Best colors working over the past week continue to be the Texas Craw, Habanero, or Candy Bug using a green pumpkin/chartreuse or black trailer. Solid Bass in the 3-6 lb range were caught over the past week near stumps and timber hopping and swimming the jig anywhere along the river channel behind stumps with current, 5-10 feet deep.

Jumbo, magnum 4" megabass tubes and gizits with loud, internal clacking rattles, are working around stumps on flats, and in creek channels. Best colors over the past few days have been black neon, black/blue tail, pumpkinseed/chartreuse tail, and bluegill. Using small, unpegged weight that knocks against the internal rattle of the tube will draw good reactions in the off-colored, stained water. In clearer water in back of the oxbows, smoke/black/red flake or purple smoke colors seems to be the color that will be working better.

White Bass: Schools of Whites continue roaming Little River, and the creek mouths dumping into the river, between Horseshoe Lake and Cemetery Slough. Whites were surface schooling on shad over the past week in Horseshoe. Sloughs feeding Little River, just out of the main river current, were holding some good schools of whites over the past week, feeding in lily pads on shad. These Bass were hitting Echo 1.75 squarebill crankbaits, Rat-L-Trap Tail Spinners, Little Georges, Little Cleos, and Johnson chrome or gold spoons, from 2-5 feet deep.

Crappie: were biting good around cypress trees in 3-8 feet deep on live shiners, and jigs.

Cats: Cats continue biting consistently the past week in Little River on trot lines using chicken gizzards, Charlie, and hot dogs, set 9-12 feet deep.


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

Surface temps as of Monday, are ranging 67ºF early to 77ºF range, depending on rain, wind, incoming fresh water, location, and time of day. Navigation is considered cautious with current this week. USACE is working to replace missing river buoys along Little River.

Lake level currently is 259.96 ft-msl, with discharge at the dam and river current, which is approx 9 inches above normal conservation pool. Normal consv. pool is 259.20 ft-msl. Gate discharge rate around 4,000 CFS. The tailwater level is 232.57 ft-msl and falling.

Clarity and visibility has improved over the past week, from all the recent water level fluctuations, more especially the oxbows. Main lake structure away from current, clarity & visibility ranges approx 6-10 inches. Little River's visibility ranges 5-8 inches depending on location and current. The oxbow's clarity currently ranging approx 10-20 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 or the Millwood State Park campground at 870-898-2800. Millwood State Park recently reopened the boat ramps, marina, and a ring of campsites a few weeks ago and are back in operation.

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!