In its pre-event press release, B.A.S.S. today announced the Lake Dardanelle Elite Series will go on as scheduled despite "high water and heavy flows on the Arkansas River."
“Barring unforeseen changes in weather or river conditions, the tournament will be held as planned,” Elite Series tournament director Trip Weldon said.
Weldon's decision followed discussions this week with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other local experts on river conditions.
“However, we will continue to track developments at Lake Dardanelle, and we will reschedule the event if conditions dictate,” he added.
In a message to the 109 Elite anglers participating next week, Weldon urged them to exercise caution in running the river, and to be especially alert because some jetties are expected to be under the surface.
While flow on the river next week is predicted to be higher than normal, B.A.S.S. events in the past have taken place on the same fishery when water levels and flow rates were similar. Boyd Duckett won a Bassmaster Major tournament in 2007 after a planned event out of Little Rock was moved upstream to Dardanelle. And Mark Menendez won an Elite tournament in 2009 on the same section following high-water events. Both four-day tournaments were won with about 55 pounds of bass.
