The Overall Picture:


As of Monday, 26 June, the lake level is approximately 3 inches above normal conservation pool and steady. Monday, there is reduced current in Little River with the gates releasing around 390 CFS. Main lake continues improving clarity. Largemouth Bass are very good early, moving deeper into creek channels and Little River later in the day. White Bass remain are deep Little River. Crappie have improved up river, out of any remaining current.


Surface temps as of Monday, are ranging 78ºF early to 90ºF range, depending on rain, wind, incoming fresh water, location, and time of day.

Lake level as of Monday, is currently is 259.5 mfsl with reduced current. Normal consv. pool is 259.20 feet. Discharge rate as of Monday was near 390 CFS. As of Monday the tailwater level was near 226 mfsl.


Be advised there are NEW NO-WAKE RIVER BUOYS AT WHITE CLIFFS BOAT RAMP AND THE NO WAKE ZONE EXTENDS FROM NORTH END OF PARK TO SOUTH END OF PARK for approximately over 1 mile, and being enforced by AGFC in Little River. This no wake zone is being strictly enforced and is no tolerance for wake boaters or barges.


Clarity and visibility continues improving, this week depending on location over the past few days. Little River continues to settle out and clear up as does main lake, with the reduced inflow and current. The oxbow's clarity continues to improve. As of Monday on main lake structure away from current, clarity & visibility ranges approx 8-12 inches. Little River's visibility ranges 10-15 inches depending on location and current. The oxbow's clarity is 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.


The Details:


Largemouth Bass: Largemouth Bass are feeding good early on topwaters. Not much change since last week, as seasonal patterns for summer are definitely the norm, best top water activity at dawn and early morning / low light conditions, up to around 10am. The top water activity continues to be a excellent on buzz baits, top water frogs, Ken Pops, Pop R Magnums, Spit'n Images, Bass Assassins, and Chugbugs working around lily pad, stumps on flats, and vegetation from 2-7 feet of depth. As the sun rises, switch to chatterbaits, War Eagle spinnerbaits, and shallow depth squarebill crankbaits will get a reaction from the Bass in the creek channels, in the same areas as the early top water bite. Big bulky magnum tubes, 8" lizards, and 10" worms near cypress trees, knees, and vegetation close to deep drops in creek channels and Little River will hold these mid morning fish.


Bass that are holding near points and deep creeks allows quick access to deeper water in Little River during the day as the sun gets up. Best color over the past week or so for buzz baits are firecracker, white/chartreuse, or bream colors. Bass Assassin Shads in Salt and Pepper Phantom, Houdini, Violet Moon, and Molting colors have been working around lily pads and vegetation over the past week with the better water clarity. Rat-L-Trap 1.75 Echo Squarebill crankbaits continue to get good reactions, with the best colors over the past week Gizzard Shad, Ghost Minnow, and Millwood Magic. Medium running Bomber Fat Free Shad crankbaits in Citruse or Citrus Shad are catching a few Largemouths in the oxbows and clearer water color in 8-12 feet depths near cypress trees and creek channel swings.


Rat-L-Trap Stuttersteps are getting good reactions at the surface on flats and over creek channels early in the morning low light hours, up river in the oxbows with best colors being Ayu, Pro Blue, and Ghost Shad.


White Bass: Best reaction bite over the past week of whites or hybrids were in the McGuire and Horseshoe Oxbows. Bomber Fat Free Shad medium diving cranks were tagging a few good Whites, as were jigging spoons.


Crappie: Continue to improve in planted brush between 8-9 feet of depth on jigs or Blakemore Roadrunners, and minnows.


Cats: Blues and Channel cats are biting fair on trot lines using Charlie, homemade blood meal baits, and hot dogs and ivory soap.


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


Be advised there are NEW NO-WAKE RIVER BUOYS AT WHITE CLIFFS BOAT RAMP AND THE NO WAKE ZONE EXTENDS FROM NORTH END OF PARK TO SOUTH END OF PARK being enforced by AGFC in Little River. NO TOLERANCE allowed regarding boats or barges of wake zones from north end of White Cliffs Campground/Park to south end which stretches over approximately 1 mile in Little River.


Surface temps as of Monday, are ranging 78ºF early to 90ºF range, depending on rain, wind, incoming fresh water, location, and time of day.


Lake level as of Monday is currently is 259.5 mfsl, and steady, approx 3 inches above normal conservation pool. Normal consv. pool is 259.20 feet. Discharge rate was around 390 CFS on Monday. The tailwater level as of Monday was near 226 mfsl.


Clarity and visibility as of Monday fair to stained. As of Monday on main lake structure away from current, clarity & visibility ranges approx 8-12 inches. Little River's visibility ranges 10-15 inches depending on location and current. The oxbow's clarity also began clearing over the weekend 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. 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, kill switch, slow down for others, & we'll see you on the lake.......






'Til next week, hope to see you on the lake,