The recently ended government shutdown put the Costa FLW Series Western Division opener on Lake Mead in a holding pattern, but FLW has received clearance to proceed with the event as planned, regardless of the current or future status of government operations.

According to Costa FLW Series Tournament Director Mark McWha, tournaments and other special events on Lake Mead were disallowed during the shutdown. After communicating with decision-makers about the tournament, FLW has received confirmation that the Western Division opener is still scheduled as originally planned.

“They’ve not been allowing any kind of special events with the government shutdown going on,” McWha says. “We just got word from the marina there saying we’d be able to hold that event with or without the government shut down.

“We thank the folks at Lake Mead for resolving the issue, and we’re looking forward to coming over there and kicking off 2019 for the Western Division.”

The Costa FLW Series Western Division opener, hosted by City of Henderson Department of Cultural Arts and Tourism, is scheduled for Feb. 28-March 2 on Lake Mead in southern Nevada. The tournament is the first of three Western Division events for the 2019 season.

The Western Division will head to northern California’s Clear Lake on May 16 and conclude with the Sept. 26 tournament on the California Delta.