Millwood Lake Draw Down

[Backwater Man]

According to the Game and Fish--The lake is 5-6 inches above normal pooling and the low water obstacles are beginning to appear and will get worse. Official draw down is July 2009 thru Feb. 2010 if my memory serves me correctly. Boat runs will be a hazard. If the draw down was as before, than Cottonshed will dry up and Okay Landing also will be dry.
Probably will not be able to launch a boat or if you have a flat bottom you will be in about 12 inches of water or less all the way to the main lake, over a 1/2 mile or more.

Most of the fishing will be done in the rivers and the oxbow lakes, plus the creeks leading into the oxbows will be very shallow.

There is a Gator hunt being planned also according to the Game and Fish weekly report. Game and Fish claims there is no 14 ft. gators in Millwood, well they needed to be with me the other day when one swan along side my boat at a distance and he looked bigger than any normal 12 footer and was not much smaller than my 16 ft. boat. They are up in the creeks leading into the lake from the river.

I would not want to be in a 12 foot John boat as many crappie fisherman use in Millwood

[spikles2]

I have to agree, In the old river channel upstream from the Wilton access, there was a gator we called Clyde. He was every bit of 16 ft. He was just short of my 18 ft Lund. There used to be a very large gator up McQuire, but I have not seen him in awhile.

I also have seen some of the biggest moccasins I have ever seen up up in Mcquire. That place just grows big everything!


Michael

[Gomer Snerd]

I have to agree, In the old river channel upstream from the Wilton access, there was a gator we called Clyde. He was every bit of 16 ft. He was just short of my 18 ft Lund. There used to be a very large gator up McQuire, but I have not seen him in awhile.

I also have seen some of the biggest moccasins I have ever seen up up in Mcquire. That place just grows big everything!


Michael

Fishin' must be awfully good in Mcguire for you to bring up 16 foot gators and big moccasins. Throw in killer bees and a chupacabra or two and we will know it's great.

[spikles2]

Yes, the fishing is great. Millwood in general is just a special place. If you are a nature buff, it is the place. pigs, birds, hornets, snakes, gators, rodents. It has it all. All signs of a great fishery

[CrappiePro]

Thanks for the report. What is going on with the crappie down there right now. Anybody catching any. CP

[Millwood Lip Ripper]

The crappie are biting but slow. Look for them in planted brushpiles or natural log/stump collections around 23 foot on the edges of the river. The drawdown has the current in the river just at the point where the crappie don't want to bite much. Current elevation today is 256.1 which is 3' down from normal. They have one more foot to go. If you are planning a trip to Millwood, wait until the 2nd week of October. Fish the river banks. You can tell when they are biting cause you can walk up and down the river just by stepping from one boat to the other. As for the gators, I promise you there are some 17'+ in there. I have seen them many, many times. They stay in Horseshoe, McGuire, back side of Mud lake (locally called "Gator Alley"), and in the several creeks along the river system. In the spring and early summer, you can see upwards of 100 a night with a spotlight. Look for the red eyes.

Yarbouough Landing will be the only place to launch your boat when they hit the 4' down level. You have got to be careful about dropping your trailer off the end of the ramp. Stay on the left side (as your looking at the lake) because the right side will most likely be trecherous and short. You will have to be patient too. Being the only ramp to launch at, it will be crowded. There may be a possibility to get a boat in at the Hwy 71 river bridge ramp or White Cliffs. I never launch there so if you go, it may be blocked off.

LB

[bobberwatcher]

The crappie are biting but slow. Look for them in planted brushpiles or natural log/stump collections around 23 foot on the edges of the river. The drawdown has the current in the river just at the point where the crappie don't want to bite much. Current elevation today is 256.1 which is 3' down from normal. They have one more foot to go. If you are planning a trip to Millwood, wait until the 2nd week of October. Fish the river banks. You can tell when they are biting cause you can walk up and down the river just by stepping from one boat to the other. As for the gators, I promise you there are some 17'+ in there. I have seen them many, many times. They stay in Horseshoe, McGuire, back side of Mud lake (locally called "Gator Alley"), and in the several creeks along the river system. In the spring and early summer, you can see upwards of 100 a night with a spotlight. Look for the red eyes.

Yarbouough Landing will be the only place to launch your boat when they hit the 4' down level. You have got to be careful about dropping your trailer off the end of the ramp. Stay on the left side (as your looking at the lake) because the right side will most likely be trecherous and short. You will have to be patient too. Being the only ramp to launch at, it will be crowded. There may be a possibility to get a boat in at the Hwy 71 river bridge ramp or White Cliffs. I never launch there so if you go, it may be blocked off.

LB

WELL LOOK WHAT THE CAT DRAGGED IN!!