AGFC Millwood Lake Fishing & Conditions Report, submitted by
Millwood Lake Guide Service each Monday/Tuesday.
}><(((º> Millwood Lake Fishing Report 10 January 2011 <º)))><{
The Overall Picture:
Navigation conditions are well below normal elevation during four foot drawdown. Use extreme caution during navigation on Millwood Lake.
As of Monday 10 January, prior to the winter blast of ice and snow, Largemouth, Kentucky (Spotted), and White Bass are fair to good. Largemouth Bass, remain in close proximity to creek junctions and ditches along Little River. The Largemouths are ranging anywhere from 3-6 pounds, along river edges and creek channels. The warmer weather last week had the Largemouths biting very good, and all that changed with the arctic winter blast of ice and snow that froze the boat ramps Sunday and Monday this week.
Over the past 2-3 weeks, good catches of bass continue on Millwood, best hitting Rat-L-Traps, Bomber Fat Free Shad Crankbaits, and jigs. War Eagle spinnerbaits continue to work around any remaining vegetation. The best bite remains heat of the day, and early afternoon forward, are the best times to make efforts.
As of Monday 10 January, boat ramps were frozen and access limited. The ramps should thaw out and be accessible by mid week. The lake level has dropped from the recent rise from all the recent rains last week, and is 39.6 inches below normal pool and falling, with increased current in Little River of 2,750 CFS, and the four foot drawdown continues through February 11. Surface temps during the past week are currently ranging 43ºF early to 47ºF later, dependent on location and time of day. Use extreme caution at boat ramps, and navigation on Millwood during the four foot drawdown in effect through Feb 2011. Stumps and boat ramps are very shallow. Some cutover boat lanes through timber on main lake are inaccessible during drawdown conditions, and merely inches of depth remain! Call the USACE for lake level updates, tail water level, and on all USACE boat ramp closures.
Lake level as of Monday 10 January, is 255.93 mfsl. Normal consv. pool is 259.20 feet. The USACE has increased total discharge, to 2750CFS (cubic feet/ second) with 13 tainer gates open at 1 foot each, and 1 sluice gate open at 1 foot. Tailwater levels as of Monday 10 January, are 228.30. Clarity on main lake slightly improved over the past week with increased rain and current in Little River; currently ranging approx 10-12 inches, and 15-20" in Little River's low level of current depending on location. The oxbows clarity ranging approx 15-20" visibility depending on location. Clarity and visibility can change dramatically on Millwood in just a few hours with high winds.
Millwood's 4' drawdown is currently underway, to control unwanted aquatic vegetation, make scheduled repairs and complete other projects, such as shoreline improvements, Ranger Tony Porter said. It will take approximately 14 days and lower the water level to 255.2 feet, approximately 4 feet below normal and the project will last until 11 February 2011, when the lake will be filled to 261.2 feet, which is 2 feet above normal and return to normal elevation of 259.2 feet after two months, or approx 11 April 2011. Use extreme caution in lake navigation during the drawdown due to stumps nearing the surface in cut over boat lanes, and the river channel. Some boat ramps maybe inaccessible during the drawdown due to sedimentation build up and rebar at / near end of ramp concrete areas. Some boat lanes maybe inaccessible due to water levels.
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 Engr's toll-free information line at 888-697-9830.
The Details:
Largemouth Bass: The bass bite over the past week, prior to the arctic blast of ice and snow was good to very good for Largemouth. Bite continues to be best during heat of the day, in early and mid afternoon with increased daytime heating. The frigid temperatures this week had few fishermen out on the lake. Surface temps over this past week slightly dropped into the mid 40 range. Black Bass were good from 2 to 4 pounds each and fair up to 6 pounds each prior to the cold ice and snow this week. Largemouth bass from 2-6 pounds each remain near almost any major creek junction and points along Little River and close proximity to deep water access nearby and these fish are hitting Bomber Fat Free Shad Crankbaits, Rat-L-Traps, jigs, and War Eagle spinnerbaits. Best Rat-L-Trap colors continue to be the Tennessee Shad/Gold and Toledo Gold. Best Bomber Fat Free Shad crankbaits colors continue to be Tennessee Shad, White, or Citrus Shad. Spinnerbaits in Spot Remover or Chart/White are working fairly well along any remaining vegetation. Jigs in black and blue or Texas Craw are working for heavy egg-laden females, worked very slow.
Slow is also the best method of crank bait retrieves or trolling the Bomber Fat Free Shad crankbaits in white, or shad patterns and the Rat-L-Traps. Work the ditches, points, and creek mouths, and intersections where dumps into Little River intersect, and around any remaining vegetation such as pondweed grass in these creek channel mouths, standing timber, and stumps as long as you remain in the creek channel, or deeper drop sections of the oxbows and river. Slow rolling War Eagle spinnerbaits in Spot Remover and White/Chart or slow moving jigs, along drops, points, ditches, and any remaining vegetation, are taking some keeper Largemouth Bass in the 3-5 pound class.
Best jigs colors over the past week are Black/blue or Texas Craw colors, and are catching bass on stumps, and points, in deeper sections of the creek channels and creek channels that dump into the river. Bulky 10" worms or Magnum 8" lizards, in Black Neon, Chartreuse pumpkin, or Red Shad are catching Bass on stumps.
Southern Pro Fattbut Gitzits with rattles are also working on stumps in Black Neon or Black/Blue.
White Bass: were fair to good over the past week prior to the ice and snow, and very large schools continue roaming Little River, some intermingled with Largemouths. Whites remain in the immediate vicinities of Hurricane Creek, White Cliffs, and oxbows that connect with the Little River and the dumps into the river, over the past several weeks. These subsurface schools roaming Little River, and the deeper sections of creek channels dumping into Little River, remain hitting Bomber Fat Free Shads, Rat-L-Traps, Cordell Gay Blades, Cordell CC Spoons, Little Georges and white/red Rooster Tails.
Crappie: Crappie were beginning to stack vertically in brush prior to the ice and snow, and were hitting vertical jigging tiny jigs. Very few Crappie fishermen out this week.
Cats: No report.
}><(((º> Millwood Lake Level & Little River Conditions Report <º)))><{
Navigation conditions are well below normal elevation during four foot drawdown. Use extreme caution during navigation on Millwood Lake.
As of Monday 10 January, boat ramps were frozen and access limited. The ramps should thaw out and be accessible by mid week. The lake level has dropped from the recent rise from all the recent rains last week, and is 39.6 inches below normal pool and falling, with increased current in Little River of 2,750 CFS, and the four foot drawdown continues through February 11. Surface temps during the past week are currently ranging 43ºF early to 47ºF later, dependent on location and time of day. Use extreme caution at boat ramps, and navigation on Millwood during the four foot drawdown in effect through Feb 2011. Stumps and boat ramps are very shallow. Some cutover boat lanes through timber on main lake are inaccessible during drawdown conditions, and merely inches of depth remain! Call the USACE for lake level updates, tail water level, and on all USACE boat ramp closures.
Lake level as of Monday 10 January, is 255.93 mfsl. Normal consv. pool is 259.20 feet. The USACE has increased total discharge, to 2750CFS (cubic feet/ second) with 13 tainer gates open at 1 foot each, and 1 sluice gate open at 1 foot. Tailwater levels as of Monday 10 January, are 228.30. Clarity on main lake slightly improved over the past week with increased rain and current in Little River; currently ranging approx 10-12 inches, and 15-20" in Little River's low level of current depending on location. The oxbows clarity ranging approx 15-20" visibility depending on location. Clarity and visibility can change dramatically on Millwood in just a few hours with high winds.
Millwood's 4' drawdown is currently underway, to control unwanted aquatic vegetation, make scheduled repairs and complete other projects, such as shoreline improvements, Ranger Tony Porter said. It will take approximately 14 days and lower the water level to 255.2 feet, approximately 4 feet below normal and the project will last until 11 February 2011, when the lake will be filled to 261.2 feet, which is 2 feet above normal and return to normal elevation of 259.2 feet after two months, or approx 11 April 2011. Use extreme caution in lake navigation during the drawdown due to stumps nearing the surface in cut over boat lanes, and the river channel. Some boat ramps maybe inaccessible during the drawdown due to sedimentation build up and rebar at / near end of ramp concrete areas. Some boat lanes maybe inaccessible due to water levels.
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 Engr's toll-free information line at 888-697-9830.
Wear your Life Jacket and kill switch!! If you are suddenly or unxpectedly 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 16"ers 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.
And As Always,
"""""<º)))><{"""""GOOD FISHIN' !"""""<º)))><{"""""""
Mike
Thank you for your interest in
Millwood Lake Guide Service ~ Arkansas' Best Bass Fishing!
Quality Catch & Release Bass Fishing!
Huge Crappie to Take Home!
Mike Siefert
Owner/Operator
www.MillwoodGuideService.com
P.O.Box 4957
Texarkana, AR/TX/USA 75505-4957
Come see what all the excitement is about!
21+ years in the guide business on Millwood Lake, since 1990!
"Some Photos courtesy, Jason Sealock"
"Your fun, we take seriously, so you don't have to!"
"""<º)))><{ """<º)))><{ ""GOFISH"" <º)))><{ """<º)))><{ """
Call US for your next trip!!
Spring 2011 Trip Dates are booking in advance, be sure to get yours on our calendar, now!
*Shop: (870) 772-6840 or visit our website and email us your desired dates that match your calendar!
Access to 5 guides, w/over 80 years combined experience on Millwood Lake, with 2+ Million Purebred Florida Strain Bass stocked by AGFC since 1990!!
