The Overall Picture:

As of Monday, 25 Jan, the lake level has dropped since last week, is approx 9 inches above normal conservation pool, and falling. Heavy current remains in Little River with the gates discharge level around 17,500 CFS as of Monday. Water temps were stable or slightly rose, over the past week. Navigation considered hazardous, this week with the heavy current. Use extreme caution with increased current in Little River; watch for floating logs, wide debris fields, and subsurface obstructions! Surface temps as of Monday, are ranging 40ºF early to 45ºF range, 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. Some have not yet reopened and the Millwood State Park remains closed for repairs.

Lake level as of Monday, is currently is 259.95 ft-msl, and falling with increased river current. Normal consv. pool is 259.20 ft-msl. As of Monday the tailwater level was 247.01 ft-msl.

Clarity and visibility improved slightly over the past week, in most areas on main lake from past few weeks w/ the reduction of current and dropping water levels beginning to settle out. As of Monday on main lake structure away from current, clarity & visibility ranges approx 5-10 inches. Little River's visibility ranges 5-8 inches depending on location and current. The oxbow's clarity ranging approx 12-18 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.

The Details:

Largemouth Bass: The Bass have been lethargic and slow over the past couple weeks with the colder night time low temperatures, increased current, and muddy water conditions. Not as many fishermen out over the past couple weeks, as before the recent 16 foot level rise of the lake, due to hazardous navigation conditions.

Bass remain slightly more aggressive during the warmest time of the day, typically noon-3pm, hitting very slow moving targets like crankbaits and large, 3/4oz War Eagle Spinnerbaits in Firetiger, Hot Mouse, chartreuse/white colors. Bomber and medium diving crankbaits in Tennessee Shad, Citrus Shad, or Citruse colors, and Echo 1.75 Squarebills in Chartreuse Shiner or Gold will get a few random bites during the warmer days in flats close to deep water creek channel swings. Clear water seemed to be their preferred hang out, if you can find any away from Little River current. Crankbaits had to be moved slow and deflecting off stumps and timber to get bit over the past couple weeks.

Vertical jigging Johnson chrome/blue Splinter Spoons, Thinfisher, or Cordell jigging spoons with bucktails, have been taking some just keeper sized fish by vertical jigging standing timber in 10-17 feet depth ranges, close to or in deeper water standing timber. The key to finding quality fish that are active continues to be away from current, and muddy high river flows of Little River where large standing timber stands are in 12-20 feet depths.

Magnum size 3" to 4" big tubes and gizzits with rattles continue to get a reaction on cypress knees in 9-12 feet depth in backs of the oxbows where you can find any clearer water sections. Black/blue tail, pumpkinseed/chartreuse tail, and black neon colors continue to be best color selections.

Large, tail-thumping, Bang Die Dappers are working on a swim jig head or weighted swim bait belly hook rig in Grey Ghost, Melon Shad, Houdini, and Trickster colors with dipping the thumper tail in chartreuse JJ Magic dye. Working the swim baits in pockets of vegetation and along edges of vegetation grass lines and dead lily pad stems approx 5-9 feet deep will pick up random, cruising, solitary bass in the 3-6 pound class.

Bang Fat Jobs are working, wacky rigged in the same areas as the Die Dappers, in blueberry, junebug, and watermelon/red&green glitter colors.

White Bass: Schools of Whites have disappeared with all the recent high water and heavy current. Nothing of a consistent pattern over the past couple weeks to speak of.

Crappie: disappeared with all the recent inflow of muddy water along Little River.

Cats: Cats continue to improve, and remained consistent over the past week with the increased current in Little River on trot lines using cut shad, buffalo, and chicken livers from 8-14 feet deep.

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

Surface temps as of Monday, 25 Jan are ranging 40ºF early to 45ºF range, depending on rain, wind, incoming fresh water, location, and time of day. Use extreme caution during navigation, as recent increase of draw at the dam was just increased over the past few days, and wide debris fields, floating trees, logs and timber can be observed in heavy current. Navigation is considered extremely hazardous with heavy current, limbs, logs, grass mats, and debris.

Lake level as of Monday is currently is 259.95 ft-msl, and with swift river current, which is approx 9 inches above normal conservation pool. Normal consv. pool is 259.20 ft-msl. Monday's discharge rate was around 17,500 CFS. The tailwater level as of Monday was at 247.01 ft-msl.

Clarity and visibility as of Monday much improved, more especially the oxbows. As of Monday on main lake structure away from current, clarity & visibility ranges approx 5-10 inches. Little River's visibility ranges 5-8 inches depending on location and current. The oxbow's clarity currently ranging approx 12-18 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.

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,