The Overall Picture:

As of Monday, 23 Jan, the lake level is approx 9" above normal conservation pool and falling. There is increased current this week of Little River, with the gates releasing around 5,890 CFS as of Monday. Water temps were stable over the past week. Navigation is improved for Little River as of Monday due to many river buoys throughout the channel on main lake structure have been replaced. Surface temps as of Monday, are ranging approx 45ºF early, to 52ºF late, depending on location. Appears the Corps of Engineers replaced many river buoys in the channel over the past week couple weeks.

Bass are good on the few warmer days, from around 3-7 pounds pounds on jigs, crankbaits, bulky tubes and swim baits. Lake level as of Monday, is currently is 260.0 ft-msl, with increased current from last week. Normal consv. pool is 259.20 feet. Discharge rate as of Monday was approx 5600 CFS. Tailwater level as of Monday at 233 ft-msl. Clarity and visibility is consistent over last couple weeks.

As of Monday on main lake structure away from current, clarity & visibility ranges approx 4-8 inches due to high wind, current, and rain over the past couple days. Little River's visibility ranges 3-5 inches depending on location and current, with the heavier stain and muddy water in current above White Cliffs. The oxbow's clarity currently ranging approx 10-15 inches depth of visibility depending on location. Little River clarity above McGuire oxbow is heavy stained from rain and current, approx 3-4", some areas have better clarity. Clarity and visibility can change dramatically on Millwood in just a few hours with high winds, current, rain, or thunderstorms.


The Details:

Largemouth Bass: Bass continue holding during the coldest parts of the day and nights deeper holes and ditches along Little River and the deeper sections of the oxbows and creeks. Over the past few days, this week, they continue roaming up into the flats for short duration where a jig and a random crankbait & squarebill or slow swim bait will get their attention, during the highest sun/warmest period of the day. Most bass have slowed their feeding moods over the past few weeks with the lower metabolism and colder body temperatures in the cooler water. Good starting locations include points extending out into Little River during the warmest period of daylight, and working the deeper drops into Little River where stumps and any remaining dead or dying lily pad stems and vegetation exists. Majority of hours of the daylight now the bass are spending more time in the 12-15 foot depths of deeper creek channels and Little River drop offs.

Real Deal Custom Tackle jigs continue working with the best colors being Texas Craw, Candy Bug, or Okeechobee Spice colors using black craw worm trailers. Berkley 10" Berkley Power worms in black grape, or blue fleck continue working around any remaining vegetation and drop-offs in creek channels and mouths of creeks. Bass Assassin and Bang swim baits like the Die Dapper in Ice Breaker, Shiner, and Houdini colors are working on a swim bait hook. The Bass Assassin Boss Shiner is also working on a swim bait hook or jig, swimming in 8-10 feet of depth, with the best colors being Mama's 14K, Houdini/Chartreuse tail, or Ripper colors.

The 1.75 Echo Squarebill crankbaits in Gold Shad, Millwood Magic, and Rayburn red colors are working on points and in creek channels, dumping into Little River during warmest period of daylight. The bite has slowed and aggressive levels tapered off over the past few weeks of cold nights and cool mornings. Best bites using crankbaits is a very S-L-O-W stop-n-go retrieve with numerous pauses along the way.

Deeper diving, 8-10 feet depth Bomber cranks in Tennessee Special, Tennessee Shad, or Bandit brown craw/orange belly colors continue to be best choices in the oxbows and in the deeper creek channels over the past several weeks by Largemouths and White Bass alike. These same cranks and squarebills are also working in creek mouths and points extending into Little River at various times during the day.


White Bass: Jigging spoons in 12-18 feet depths of Little River are still working. Deep holes in Little River just out of the current, or behind secondary points continue to hold a few good schools of Whites from 12-18 feet of depth. Keep sharp hooks on the spoons, the bite of Whites this time of year is slow and methodical, and a soft touch rod helps keep in contact with a slow and soft bite.

Crappie: were willing to bite minnows and jigs prior to the recent increase in current, but seem to have disappeared along Little River with all the muddy current over the past few days. Best action prior to the lake rise and current increase was in 12-18 feet as long as it was out of direct current. Cordell Paddle tail smoke grubs on light wire jig heads, vertical jigging Blakemore Roadrunners, and hair jigs were catching some nice slabs in planted brush between 12-18 feet deep.

Cats: Blues and channel cats continue to bite good in Little River over the past week with increased current. Best bites are on trot lines 12-15 feet of depth along outer bends of Little River using chicken gizzards, livers, and cut bait.


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Surface temps as of Monday dropped again over the past week, and are ranging 45ºF early to 52ºF range, depending on location. USACE has replaced many river marker buoys along main lake channel. Millwood Lake level as of Monday is approx 9" above normal pool at 260 ft-msl, falling, with reduced river current. Normal consv. pool is 259.20 feet. Discharge rate was around 5600 CFS on Monday. The tailwater level as of Monday, is 233 ft-msl. Navigation caution is recommended for Millwood at current conditions. Clarity and visibility is consistent over last couple weeks, most areas on main lake and Little River. Use caution running the Little River throughout the main lake body, with the increased discharge.

As of Monday on main lake structure away from current, clarity & visibility ranges approx 4-8 inches. Cottonshed and northeast section of the lake remains stained. Little River's visibility ranges 3-5 inches depending on location and current. The oxbow's clarity currently ranging approx 10-15 inches depth of visibility depending on location as of Monday. Little River above McGuire oxbow is muddy with current. Clarity and visibility can change dramatically on Millwood in just a few hours with high winds, river current, 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. 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. 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, wear your life jacket & we'll see you on the lake........





Mike Siefert
Owner/Operator
www.MillwoodGuideService.com
P.O.Box 4957
Texarkana, AR/TX/USA 75505-4957
Shop: 870-772-6840

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"Some Photos courtesy, Jason Sealock"
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Millwood Lake Guide Service ~ Arkansas' Best Bass Fishing!

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