Ed Note: New regulations for Largemouth Bass have gone into effect as of January 1, 2012. See AGFC Website or recent regulation handbook for details.


Millwood Lake Fishing and Conditions Report
09 January 2012
Submitted each Monday/Tuesday for AGFC by
www.MillwoodGuideService.com

"""<º)))><{""" Fishing & Species Report """}><(((º>"""

The Overall Picture:


As of Monday 09 Jan, the lake level is stabilized this week, but release of excess water above normal conservation pool is expected mid to late week. Current and muddy water had the Largemouth Bass scattered over the past couple weeks, but bites can be had from mid morning through mid-afternoon. The Bass for the past several weeks, have shifted to breaks behind points downstream of increased muddy incoming water and current. White bass, Kentucky bass, have scattered on Little River and her oxbows over the past week. Stable temperatures continue to bunch the Crappie tighter and closer in brush piles, but have moved to clearer water locations, out of current and muddy water.

Surface temps remained constant over the past week, as of Monday 09 Jan are currently ranging 50ºF early to 53ºF later in the afternoon hours, depending on rain, wind, incoming fresh water, location and time of day. Call the USACE for lake level daily updates, Little River current, discharge release, and tail water levels.

Lake level as of Monday 09 Jan, is currently is 260.99 mfsl, and falling, which is now 21.5 inches above normal. Normal consv. pool is 259.20 feet. Discharge rate as of Monday was reduced with only 3 gates open at 1 foot, for a decrease in total discharge to 1,242 CFS. The tailwater level as of Monday, is 227.08 mfsl and is now falling.

Use extreme caution during navigation. There is a considerable amount of current with debris in Little River due to the incoming muddy water and release rate at the dam. Clarity and visibility as of Monday on main lake is improving; visibility was reduced from increased current, incoming rain, thunderstorms and wind over the past few weeks, currently ranging approx 5-8 inches in the River depending on location. The oxbow's clarity are better, with heavy stain, ranging approx 18-20 inches visibility depending on location. Water temps are dropping lake-wide, due to recent back to back cold fronts. Clarity and visibility can change dramatically on Millwood in just a few hours with high winds or thunderstorms.

Currently, as of Monday 09 Jan, the final of three, successive, four-foot drawdowns has ended. The lake has been held 2 feet above normal conservation pool for approximately 30 days. We expect the USACE to begin releasing to normal conservation pool of 259.2 mfsl this week. River Run East facilities are still undergoing maintenance and upgrades, and as such, still closed until mid-July 2012. Paraloma Park is closed for the winter. All other ramps and USACE parks are open. USACE recently completed updates at White Cliffs Camp ground with addition of 6-8 more campsites, and other facility improvements.

To volunteer for one of the cleanup dates or ramp and USACE park information, contact Brooke Kervin at the Millwood Tri-Lakes Project Office. To receive updates or volunteer, call the US Army Corps of Engrs toll-free information line at 888-697-9830.

New regulations for Largemouth Bass have gone into effect as of January 1, 2012. See AGFC Website or recent regulation handbook for details.

The Details:

Largemouth Bass: The best bass bite over the last few weeks, has been pitching soft plastics to stumps, grass, lily pads, and wood laydowns behind points and cuts of the river, in the swirling eddies where current break lines are being used by the Bass with all the incoming rising muddy water and current. The lake level stabilized over the past last week, and we expect a slow fall to begin back to normal conservation pool this week.

The 2-5 pound sized Largemouths are fair; best bet this week continues to be on Gene Larew Hog Craws in black, or black & blue, and June Bug. Yum Wooly Bugs, or creature baits like Zoom Brush Hogs Texas rigged, in Watermelon-Red, Black-Blue, and Killer Craw, were also catching some 14-17" Bass on cypress trees and knees in 8-12 foot depths. Pumpkinseed/chartreuse or Diablo colors StrikeWorks Jigs worked around stumps, laydowns, and in lily pad stems were taking 17-19" size Bass. Ring-worms in black with Fire Tail, or pumpkinseed w/ chartreuse tail, are taking some nice 15-19" Largemouth Bass and Kentucky Bass.

War Eagle Spinnerbaits are continuing to get a few good reactions in the dead lily pad stems away from current. The best colors working over the past few weeks continue to be Cole Slaw, Hot Mouse, or white and chartreuse. If you are able to find clearer water in the oxbows, Rat-L-Traps in Red Shad, Toledo Gold, or Smokey Joe were taking some Largemouth Bass in the 12-16" length range.
White Bass and Kentuckys: The White Bass have gone deep in the river channel, and all but disappeared with the recent influx of muddy water and increased current. Hurricane Creek, Horseshoe oxbow lake, and White Cliffs areas, for the past several weeks have been very good locations for finding these loosely packed schools of White Bass and have produced very large numbers of schooling Whites and Kentucky Bass. These schooling fish were hitting Rat-L-Traps and Bomber crankbaits up Little River, running shad & occasionally surface breaking during the day. Snake Creek still has a few Kentucky Bass bunched up out of the muddy current and were hitting lizards and Baby Brush Hogs in black neon, chartreuse pumpkin, or scumpernong colors.

Crappie: No Report. Scattered.


Cats: remain very good to excellent on trot lines, yo-yos, tight lines, along current and break lines in the outer bends of Little River with the increase in current. Blues and Channel Cats were biting on cut shad, blood bait, hot dogs, & chicken livers, in 14-18 feet of Little River on the outer break lines in current or on minnows and cut shad on the yo-yos tied along the Little River, in 9-12 feet depths.

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


Surface temps constant over the past week, as of Monday 09 Jan are currently ranging 50ºF early to 53ºF later in the afternoon hours, depending on rain, wind, incoming fresh water, location and time of day. Call the USACE for lake level daily updates, Little River current, discharge release, and tail water levels.

Lake level as of Monday 09 Jan, is currently is 260.99 mfsl and falling, now 21.5" above normal. Normal consv. pool is 259.20 feet. Discharge rate as of Monday was 3 gates open at 1 foot, for a decrease in total discharge to 1,242 CFS. The tailwater level as of Monday was at 227.08.

Use extreme caution during navigation. There is still a considerable amount of debris in Little River. Clarity and visibility as of Monday on main lake is improved; currently ranging approx 5-8 inches in the River depending on location. The oxbow's clarity are better, with heavy stain, ranging approx 18-20 inches visibility depending on location. Water temps are dropping lake-wide, due to recent back to back cold fronts. Clarity and visibility can change dramatically on Millwood in just a few hours with high winds or thunderstorms.

To volunteer for one of the cleanup dates or ramp and USACE park information, contact Brooke Kervin at the Millwood Tri-Lakes Project Office. To receive updates or volunteer, call the US Army Corps of Engrs toll-free information line at 888-697-9830.
As of Monday 09 Jan, the drawdown has ended. Extreme caution during navigation is critical while the high discharge rates are in effect!! USACE has held the lake level 2 feet above normal pool (261.2 vs normal elevation of 259.2) for approximately 30 days, and we expect the USACE to begin releasing back to normal conservation pool this week. River Run East is still undergoing maintenance, repairs, and upgrades; and as such, still closed for use until mid July 2012. Paraloma Park is closed for winter. All other USACE ramps and parks are open. USACE recently completed upgrades and improvements to White Cliffs camping area, with the addition of another 6-8 campsites and other facility improvements.

As of Jan 01, 2012 AGFC regulations for Largemouth Bass have changed. See AGFC website, or official regulation handbook for details.


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!!

Don't forget, be courteous, and respect the other guy's right to use the lake too. Release those big bass to spawn and fight again, and take home those little 12 inchers to fry up! Use caution in low light conditions, and wear your flotation device! If you are suddenly thrown from your boat, or knocked unconscious, your life preserver can potentially be your only hope to survive.

Visit us on the web for the most current Millwood Lake fishing 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, and Arkansas.com.

Come see what all the excitement's about!



Thanks for your interest in
Millwood Lake Guide Service ~ Arkansas' Best Bass Fishing!


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

""""""""GOFISH""""<º)))><{{"""""""""""

21+ years in the professional guide business on Millwood Lake, since 1990!



"Some Photos courtesy, Jason Sealock"


Booking Spring 2012 trips NOW!!