I've read through the rules and nothing addresses what time you can launch when trailering.

You made this comment - "The well known angler put his boat in a slip and stayed out there all night. Is that right, I don't think so." If this isn't against the rules, then there is nothing wrong with what he did. Maybe it's not "right" but the angler did nothing wrong if it's not against the rules. You can't blame him.

I caught that fish ... but I wasn't in the tournament, man that was the best 12# bass I ever ate!.

They had it on the weigh in slip. I didn't pay attention to what it said regarding launching, we launched at a public ramp, at rc they listed the ramps but there are only 6 on the lake. Idk. They would have to dq about 50 people for me to get a check so I could care less.

I ran into this scenario once on texoma about 5 years ago. I knew there was no way the anglers in question could have beat us to our starting spot (which they were on) from a public ramp so I asked them where they launched. They pointed to a private ramp 50 yards from starting spot. Turns out they didn't know the rules on launching from a public ramp. We informed them of the rule, and turned around and left. Turns out they got to thinking about breaking a rule, so they called the TD who indeed informed them they broke a rule. He made them release fish in livewell and start over. All I can say is it's very frustrating when an angler reads all the rules and follows them to a "T" only to have either people ignorant of the rule or intentionally breaking the rule.

The angler in question rented a boat slip the night before which was cleared with the TD the night before as well.He did not leave the boat ramp until 530. I spoke to him last night about it. He was totally within the rules and even went further beyond by additionally clarifying with the TD on Friday. As long as the advantage is offered for all I don't blame him for doing something that gave him a competitive advantage.

did he win??

no sir I also want to clear up did not leave the boat slip not boat ramp

Did he do well in the tourney?

Trailering is still a better option than the Buck Creek fiasco which was nuts. Still not sure how there wasn't an accident there.

I thought the Buck creek shoot out was a trailering deal

Every body had to stay in bouys till certain time, then it was a shotgun start lol.

What if you dump your boat before the official
time so you don't hold up people? That a voilation of the rules?

Neither have I. The 6th fish can be in the boat only as long as it takes to cull.

pretty ingenious.. rent slip night before to avoid launch and get to head out at 5:30am beating most everybody else.

OP: Bring me your torch, the tribe has spoken.

The service ramp at Ray Roberts marina can be used if you pay the $5 and get a pass. That's not a public ramp but that option is available to anyone that takes the proper steps to make it available to them. I would not consider that a rule violation if you get the proper pass to launch there. I would call it strategy as long as it's available to anyone. I don't know if the ramp in question here has that option or not.