Lake Cumberland's Woes Equal Tourism Boost for Ozark Mountain Region

FLIPPIN, Ark., April 11 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ozark Mountain Region (http://www.ozarkmountainregion.com/ ) announced today that they are ready to absorb the estimated 2 million vacationers who may be displaced by the Wolf Creek Dam water shortage crisis that leaves Lake Cumberland boaters and fisherman high and dry for an estimated seven years. Check out all the reasons for Cumberland fishermen to select the Ozark Mountain lakes. (http://www.ozarkmountainregion.com/lakes-rivers/cumberland_lake.asp )

This will be a great relief to the Lake Cumberland sportsmen who were warned by Kentucky Commerce Secretary George Ward that as many as 90 percent of Lake Cumberland launching ramps will be unusable, while Corps engineers are predicting fish kills because of a rise in water temperature.

Kelly Linck, Executive Director of the Ozark Mountain Region tourism association, says, "Unlike Lake Cumberland, we have an abundance of water at our Ozark Twin Lakes, and it's crystal clear. We invite folks affected by the Lake Cumberland water shortage to come enjoy our world class fishing, white water adventures, boating, scuba diving, skiing and sailing."

Visitors to the Ozark Mountain Region will find "The Caribbean of the Midwest" as they discover the wonders of scuba diving and fishing in the pristine waters of Bull Shoals Lake. The largest of the Ozark Twin Lakes, Bull Shoals has more than 1,000 miles of beautiful mountain shoreline where visitors can enjoy more than 72,000 acres of glass-smooth water stocked with game fish from crappie to walleye.

And if that isn't enough, anglers are invited to try the fishing at Lake Norfork, famous for its lunker black bass and mighty ocean stripers, and home to walleye, crappie and catfish. Anglers can choose from 54 individual fishing areas which have been identified for game, bait, lake profile and seasonal factors. Night fishing with lights for white bass and crappie is available to those who wish to fish 'round the clock'. With its vast expanse of deep blue water, Norfork Lake has become a favorite location for scuba diving and spear fishing. Water sports enthusiasts enjoy the rare opportunity for clear water skiing, wake boarding and boating.