The Overall Picture:

As of Monday, 06 June, the lake level continues fluctuating, and is approximately 13 inches above normal conservation pool. Current exists in Little River w/gate discharge around 14,400 CFS on Monday. Water temps slightly rose, over the past week. Navigation considered cautious this week. Surface temps as of Monday, are ranging 72ºF early to 81ºF 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 260.3 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 244.41 ft-msl.

Clarity and visibility has worsened over the past week, in most areas on main lake from recent rains and thunderstorms. As of Monday on main lake structure away from current, clarity & visibility ranges approx 3-6 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 10-15 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 are more in a feeding mood since the recent increase in temperatures over the past week. Warmer days, sun, and more stable weather patterns have the bass in a feeding mood.

During the early morning, buzz baits, frogs, Bass Assassin Shads and Pop-R's continue getting a fairly good reaction bite at the surface. Later morning after the top water bite is done, and throughout the afternoon, chatterbaits, crankbaits, and spinnerbaits are working. Best color of War Eagle spinnerbaits over the past week or so, has been Spot Remover, Fire Tiger, and white/chartreuse. Over the past week, the chatterbaits in black and blue, the spinnerbaits in Spot Remover and Fire Tiger, and big 10" worms in black grape, black, or blue fleck, and plum have been working well for Largemouths.

Bass Assassin Shads in Black, chartreuse pepper, and rainbow trout colors colors are catching healthy 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.

Rat-L-Traps in Chartreuse shiner, gold, and chrome/blue colors all continue working on sunny days in creek channels deflecting off stumps and timber, around cypress trees/knees. Echo 1.75 squarebill crankbaits continue working in creek channel bends in the deeper sections of creek channels around 8-12 feet of depth away from river current. Echo 1.75 squarebills continue working as well over the past week with improving water clarity, best colors have been the Ghost, Millwood Magic, or Gold Shad color patterns on cloudy days seem to draw best reaction.

Oversized magnum 4" megabass tubes and gizits with loud, internal clacking rattles, are working around stumps on flats, and in creek channels in the off colored or stained water. 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. If you can locate clearer water in back of the oxbows, smoke/black/red flake or purple smoke colors seems to be the color that is 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 several weeks, late in the morning hours, 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 or surface plugs like the Cordell Crazy Shad and Clear Baby Torpedos.

Crappie: disappeared with all the muddy water and current!

Cats: Cats continue biting consistently the past week in Little River, more especially with the increase in discharge and river current on trot lines using blood bait, cottonseed mill cake, Chicken gizzards, and hot dogs, set 7-12 feet deep.


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

Surface temps as of Monday, are ranging 72ºF early to 81ºF 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 260.3 ft-msl, with discharge at the dam and river current, which is approx 13 inches above normal conservation pool. Normal consv. pool is 259.20 ft-msl. Gate discharge rate around 14,400 CFS. The tailwater level is 244.41 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 3-6 inches. Little River's visibility ranges 5-8 inches depending on location and current. The oxbow's clarity currently ranging approx 10-15 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!