The Overall Picture:

As of Monday, 2 May, the lake level continues rising, approx 5.8 feet above normal conservation pool. Current in Little River w/gate discharge around 25,600 CFS as of Monday. Water temps slightly rose, over the past week. Navigation considered cautious this week w/ the increase of discharge at the dam and heavy current in Little River. Surface temps as of Monday, are ranging 63ºF early to 73ºF later in the day, depending on rain, wind, incoming fresh water, location, and time of day. Several boat ramps and park campgrounds have re-opened from recent high water flooding and The Millwood State Park reopened the park marina, nature trails, and one loop of campsites. Both boat ramps at Millwood State Park recently reopened to the public, as well as the day use picnic sites. The USACE are working to replace numerous river buoys missing along Little River since the recent rise.

Lake level as of Monday, is approximately 265.0 ft-msl, and slowly rising with current conditions. Normal consv. pool is 259.20 ft-msl. As of Monday the tailwater level was 252.34 ft-msl and rising.

Clarity and visibility has worsened over much of the lake. In most areas on main lake from past few weeks fluctuating water levels conditions are muddy to heavy stain. As of Monday on main lake structure away from current, clarity & visibility ranges approx 3-6 inches. Little River's visibility is heavy stain to muddy depending on location and ranges from 2-5 inches depending on location and current. The oxbow's clarity ranging approx 5-6 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 or Steve Spicer 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 majority of the Largemouth are post-spawn, and recuperating. Prior to the recent 6 foot rise on the lake from thunderstorms and rain, many nice bass were being caught in the 3-5 lb class, with many more between 6-10 lbs each, over the past few weeks. Best activity period appears to be early to late morning, in the best water clarity you can find. Best reactions over the past week seems to be on Pit Bosses, Craw Fatty's, buzz baits, Bass Assassin Shads, lizards, and spinnerbaits.

Slow moving swim baits have started to turn on over the past couple weeks and the top water bite was improving in the clearest water you can find away from Little River current and muddy flow. Jointed Jitterbugs, Pop-R's, Chug Bugs, and soft plastic frogs are beginning to draw reactions around fresh lily pad stands and vegetation.

Late morning seems to be the most productive times for feeding, and big 10" worms, Bass Assassin Shads deadsticking, Fat Jobs wacky rigged and slow moving, have really been the go-to for Largemouths from 3 and up to 7 or 8 pounds. Bang Die Dapper and Boss Shiner swim baits are working rigged on a swim bait belly hook using 3/16 or 3/8 oz weight in ProBlue/Red Pearl, and Silver Flash Minnow very slow in and around new pads and vegetation. Bass Assassin Shads in Grey Ghost, Bad To The Bone, and chartreuse shad colors continue catching nice 3-4 lb Largemouths in newly sprouting lily pad stems, vegetation, stickups, and timber.

Bang Fat Jobs are working wacky rig, up river in the oxbows in the same areas. Best colors of Fat Jobs over the past couple weeks continues to be Houdini and Blueberry. Lightest wire hook you have will give best action around fresh vegetation, and wacky rigged will get bit quick.

If you can find small sections of clear water, Echo Squarebill cranks are beginning to draw good reactions again, back in the oxbows, using Gold, Sexy Sunfish, and Millwood Magic on warmer days sunlight, in creek channels and higher up in shallow flats. Best pattern we found was deflecting off stumps and timber, around cypress trees/knees. Echo 1.75 squarebill crankbaits are working outside spawning flats where the big post-spawners are recuperating. The Echo 1.75 crankbaits are catching good numbers of Largemouths and White Bass equally well, but randomly since the recent 6 foot rise and muddy conditions. Best color of Echo 1.75 squarebills over the past week with the muddy and stained water have been the Chartreuse Flash, Red Crawfish, or Sexy Chrome color patterns. War Eagle spinnerbaits in Chartreuse/white, and Firetiger continue taking nice Largemouths up to around 4-5 lbs last week and this week along vegetation lines and dead lily pad stems in Mud Lake and Horseshoe.

Slow moving Real Deal Custom Tackle jigs are working for 3-5 pound Largemouths in 1-5 feet of depth where best clarity away from Little River current is you can find. Best colors working over the past couple weeks continue to be the Texas Craw, Grasshopper, or Habanero, using a green pumpkin/chartreuse or black trailer. Several Largemouths in the 4-7 lb class were caught over the past few weeks near stumps and cypress trees hopping and swimming the same jig in a white color with a chartreuse double leg spinnerbait trailer on back around 3-5 feet of depth in best clarity water we could find, of 8-12" visibility, near new blooming lily pads.

White Bass: Schools of Whites are still roaming. These White Bass have wrapped up their annual spawning run up Little River for the most part, and are now starting to scatter in large schools. The Echo squarebilled crankbaits are catching a few roaming White Bass in the oxbows and creek mouths.

Crappie: dissapeared with the high muddy water and heavy current in Little River. The Crappie were spawning and hugging cypress trees in 3-6 feet of water and fair to good on jigs, small spinnerbaits, rocket shads, Blakemore Roadrunners, and on yo-yo's using shiners prior to the recent 6 feet rise of the lake.

Cats: Cats continue biting consistently over the past week with the increase of current in Little River on trot lines using cut bait, blood bait, and chicken livers, set 7-12 feet deep.

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

Surface temps as of Monday, are ranging 63ºF early to 73ºF range, depending on rain, wind, incoming fresh water, location, and time of day. Navigation is considered cautious with heavy current this week. USACE is working to replace missing river buoys along Little River.

Lake level currently is 265.0 ft-msl and rising, with heavy river current, which is approx 5.8 feet above normal conservation pool. Normal consv. pool is 259.20 ft-msl. Gate discharge rate around 25,600 CFS. The tailwater level 252.34 ft-msl and rising.

Clarity and visibility has remained consistent 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 2-5 inches depending on location and current. The oxbow's clarity currently ranging approx 5-6 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 or Steve Spicer 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 water!