Meetings focus on lock changes The Army Corps of Engineers, Little Rock District, will host four public workshops to discuss proposed changes to lockage policies for recreational boaters on the Arkansas River and associated waters in the McClellan-Kerr Navigation System.
There will be no formal presentations, but the public may talk with Corps representatives about the proposed changes. Written comments also will be accepted at the workshops.
Workshops will be at the following locations:
Nov. 7: Little Rock. Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center, 602 President Clinton Ave. 2-4 p.m. and 5-7 p.m.
Nov. 8: Russellville. Russellville Project Office, 1598 Lock and Dam Road. 2-4 p.m. and 5-7 p.m.
Nov. 13: Ozark. Arkansas Valley Electric Cooperative, 1811 West Commercial St. 2-4 p.m. and 5-7 p.m.
Nov. 15: Pine Bluff. Governor Mike Huckabee Delta Rivers Nature Center, 1400 Black Dog Road, 2-4 p.m. and 5-7 p.m.
The proposed recreation lockage changes will reduce the number of swings on lock gates at facilities with high recreational boating traffic, reduce the wear on the gates. The Corps implemented a new program of daily preventive maintenance Oct. 1 at Trimble Lock, near Fort Smith, and Ozark Lock. Those locks close for a four-hour period daily to allow personnel to perform routine preventive and scheduledmaintenance.
“We are looking into the benefits of expanding our preventive maintenance program to the remainder of our Arkansas locks,” said John Balgavy, chief of the operations division for the Corps‘ Little Rock District.
The policy will take into account special scheduled events such asbass tournaments, flotillas and civic celebrations.
BFL tour sets entry deadline The FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) will accept entries for the 2013 season Dec. 13 for the Arkie and Okie divisions.
Entries may be made by mail at 30 Gamble Lane, Benton, Ky., 42025, by telephone at (270) 252-1000, or online at FLWOutdoors.com.
Boaters entering by the priority deadline for each tournament and providing co-anglers (with membership numbers) will be given priority and, if accepted into the tournament, will receive a guaranteed co-angler draw.
Co-anglers entering by the priority deadline for each tournament and providing boaters (with membership numbers) will be given priority in the co-angler division. Boater and co-angler priority and boater draw guarantees are granted when matching boater and co-angler entries (listing each other’s name and membership number) are received by the priority deadline and are contingent on both anglers competing in the tournament entered.
TBF members entering by the priority deadline for each tournament will be given priority. All other entry priority will be assigned by the date and time of entry.
BFL changes points system The FLW Bass Fishing League (BFL) has changed its points system for 2013.
Every angler participating in a tournament will receive a minimum of 20 points, and every angler participating in a super tournament will receive a minimum of 30 points.
Anglers must earn weight credit to receive additional points.
The change will reward anglers who fish all five tournaments in a division.
Sports, Pages 29 on 11/04/2012