We are getting calls about what lake conditions anglers should expect to find for the tournaments on Friday March 21 and Saturday March 22.

Due the exceptionally heavy rains, the lake is at about 4 feet above normal pool and rising as of 12:00 Noon on March 19, 2008. We expect the level to continue to rise overnight and probably remain at or near this level for a week or more as the flooding moves down out of the watershed.

The ramp is not closed but use will carry additional risks to equipment and people during the period. Anglers should expect to have to unload boats in flood waters where the towing vehicle will be in water during launch. All hazards for such activity will remain with the drivers and boaters themselves. Angling conditions are will include very high water, muddy conditions and unknown underwater hazards.

Those who feel we should lower the level for angling should understand that this is not possible due to the design of the dam itself. The lake was designed to hold back excessive flooding and to discharge impounded water at a slow rate to reduce flooding of the East Fork of the White River. There is no mechanism that allows that design purpose to be circumvented. The best we can tell you about when it will be back to normal level is that it will be there when it gets there, and that depends on how much additional rain we get in the interim.