As of Monday, 19 Feb, the lake level is approx 8 inches above normal conservation pool and rising at 259.9 ft-msl; and there is current of approx 2,800 CFS in Little River according to the USACE. The tailwater as of Monday is approx 230 ft-msl. Water temps have improved over the past week. With the incoming thunderstorms and flash flood warnings later this week, be sure and check the most recent lake level of Millwood Lake on our website helpful links page, or at the US Army Corps of Engineers website for updated gate release changes and inflow rates with rising and falling lake levels and conditions.

NO-WAKE ZONES are in effect at both, northern and southern, ends of White Cliffs Campground on the river, and marked with river buoys. Be advised, no tolerance of boat wakes within the marked area, is being enforced by AGFC along the river.

Surface temps as of Monday, are ranging near 45ºF early to 55ºF range later under full sun, depending on location. Continue to use caution in navigation on Little River and Millwood watching for broken or floating timber.

Clarity and visibility are mostly stained heavy in places, especially current rolling, up river. The main lake and lower sections of Little River are not quite as stained or muddy as the northern sectors. As of Monday on main lake structure away from current, clarity & visibility is moderate stain, ranging approx 3-5 inches. Little River's visibility ranges 2-5 inches with heavy to moderate stain, depending on location and current. The oxbow's clarity currently ranging approx 8-12 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. Also reach the US Corps of Engineers at 870-898-3343 for more information.


The Details:

Largemouth Bass: Largemouth's activity continue typical, for the current late winter patterns. Bass were improved over the past few days with the warmer ambient conditions, and best on sunny and warm days, from 2-3 lbs each, up to 6 pounds, best during the heat of the day. Chatterbaits, slow moving swim baits or suspending jerkbaits, dead-sticking Trick worms and Bass Assassin Shads on a light wire hook for suspended Bass. Smithwick Rouges, Cordell Redfins, and other suspending hard jerk-baits, along with slow-rolling heavy spinnerbaits and Rat-L-Traps in and near creek channels, where any remaining vegetation and lily pads stems are taking a few stragglers. Heavy, large thumping, 1/2 and up to 3/4 size Rat-L-Traps in any of the Natural (brown/orange) Crawfish, Red Chrome, Red Shad, Toledo Gold, or Rayburn Red Zombie colors, and medium diving Bomber Fat Free Shad crankbaits in Tennessee Shad or Citrus Shad, and slow rolling heavy 3/4 War Eagle spinnerbaits in white/chartreuse or Spot Remover colors, deep in the creeks, over the past few weeks will pick up a few decent Bass in the 2-5 pound class, in the creek channels or along sloping points dumping into the river. The had to be a really slow roll or stop and go type retrieve to entice a bite for the past couple weeks, on Millwood. Big, slow moving swim baits, stop and go retrieved, are randomly picking up a few nice contenders in the 4-5 pound class in deeper creeks and ditches.

The further up river and into the oxbows away from muddy Little River current seemed to hold a few reactive bass, and the clearer water near standing timber continues to be several degrees cooler than the dirty/stained water sections closer to the river. The back of the oxbows definitely have the best water clarity, yet the most lethargic bass. Deflecting Rat-L-Traps and Echo 1.75 crankbaits around and banging them into the standing timber on points in backs of the oxbows where feeder creeks dump into the oxbows, and deflecting off stumps, from 8-12 feet deep, and were taking a few 14-17" Bass away from the River, where better water clarity was located without current. Also, heavy 3/4oz War Eagle Spinnerbaits continue working cypress trees from 9-12 feet deep, best colors drawing reactions over the past couple weeks being Spot Remover, or White/Chartreuse and FireTiger. Best color of cranks in the clear water in back of the oxbows, like the Echo 1.75 squarebills, over the past week or so have been the Millwood Magic, Ghost Minnow, Pro Blue, or Sexy Chrome, have been the go-to colors.

Oversized 3-4" tube jigs like Gizzits with internal rattles, continue working most anywhere, in clear or the heavy stain water areas, where stumps, timber, and any vegetation remains. Internal glass or brass, heavy knocking rattles are helping the bass locate the lure in the stained water clarity. Black/blue tail, purple smoke/chartreuse tail, black neon, or pumpkinseed/chartreuse tail, were getting the best reactions over the past 3-4 weeks, the darker colors seem to draw better reactions in the more stained water areas.

Real Deal Kustom Tackle jigs with a heavy craw worm trailer are picking up random, solitary Bass on Cypress trees and knees from 8-11 feet deep. Black/blue/purple, black/red, or Texas Craw continue to be the go-to colors, all with a black or green pumpkin craw trailer. Texas rigged, Berkley 10" Power worms in Black, Blue Fleck, and Black Grape, slowly crawled by stumps and timber, continue finding a few 15-18" Bass.

White Bass: Whites and Hybrids have begun their annual spawning runs up Little River. Large schools were connected with last week between entrance to McGuire Lake and Brown's slough. Another huge school was found between Cemetery slough and State Highway 71 bridge. These Whites reacted well to 6-9' depth diving Bomber Fat Free Shad crankbaits, in white, Citruse, and Tennessee Shad colors; Rooster Tails in red/chrome, and Little Georges in white and blue colors. 3/4 oz size heavy Rat-L-Traps in White Glass, Chrome Black Zombie, Gizzard Shad, and Millwood Magic (Silverado) fished slow, with a stop and go from 9-12 feet of depth got good reactions from the Whites over the past few days in the above locations, best behind primary points extending into Little River, out of direct current flow, where creeks dump into the channel where eddies are created with a back wash.

Crappie: improved late last week on jigs and minnows from 12-16 feet deep, along standing timber and brush planted in Little River, just out of the current, above Horseshoe oxbow.

Cats: Blues and Channel cats improved on trot lines with increased current using punch baits, spoiled chicken livers, or gizzards and hearts, and hot dogs in heavy current along Little River from 12-18 feet of depth.

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

Surface temps as of Monday, are ranging in the 45ºF early to 55ºF range, depending on location.

Lake level as of Monday is approx 8 inches above normal conservation pool, at 259.9 ft-msl and rising with current and discharge near 2,800 CFS as of Monday. Normal consv. pool is 259.20 feet. The tailwater level as of Monday, approx 230 ft-msl. Wear your life jacket and kill switch and watch for obstructions, floaters, broken limbs, logs, and debris along Little River during navigation. New NO-WAKE ZONES are in effect at both, northern and southern, ends of White Cliffs Campground on the river, and marked with river buoys. Be advised, no tolerance of boat wakes within the marked area, is being enforced by AGFC along the river.

Clarity and visibility is heavy stain and muddy further up river. As of Monday on main lake structure away from current, clarity & visibility ranges approx 3-5 inches. Little River's visibility is muddy and rolling up river, ranges 2-5 inches depending on location and current. The oxbow's clarity currently ranging approx 8-12 inches depth of visibility depending on location. Little River above McGuire oxbow is rolling muddy with current. Clarity and visibility can change dramatically on Millwood in just a few hours with high winds, rain, or thunderstorms.

Be sure to note, new NO WAKE buoys in Little River along White Cliffs Campground, and NO TOLERANCE is being enforced by AGFC.

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.

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....

Use extreme caution in navigation, wear your life jacket and let us know how we can help you GET OUT THERE!!