Interesting, 20 people so far are admitting to breaking the law...lol. Unless of course they are only fishing private waters, which I would assume is improbable.

I've said the same thing about falling out of the boat!

Quarantines are in order. Or maybe not.

Not everyone that reads TFF is a Texas resident too.

Arkansas recommends removing plugs, for example, but it's not law as far as I know.

I take mine out and keep it out until unplugging the charger to cut down on mold.

You’re gonna wish you pulled it if you leave your boat outside during a storm.

Seen a few leaf springs busted...

Always pull it at the ramp to drain after fishing, then put it back in.
I also pull it where I store the covered boat as I'm hitching the boat up to my vehicle, then put it back in.
I probably should leave it out more when storing the sheltered boat to let it dry out faster between storms.

IN Texas as long as you fish the same lake and never go to another lake you do not have to pull it unless you just want to drain all the water out if you have any little leaks.

IF you go to different lakes it is the law and you must drain the bilge to prevent the spread of invasive species and grasses.

IF your boat stays moored on the lake, you'd be correct. BUT....if you put it on a trailer, you aren't telling the full story. It doesn't matter if you are going to another lake or not, just that you have put the boat on a trailer. It must be drained before you leave a lake as well, not just if you go to another lake. They can't tell if you are going to the boat barn, or to another lake. They even cover that you can leave a ramp with water & fish for a tournament, but only if you have paperwork for that tournament with you to exempt you from the "drain before you depart" portion of the rule.

From TPWD:
"To prevent the spread of invasive species, boaters are required to drain all water from their boat and gear before approaching or leaving a public fresh water body. Failure to immediately remove and lawfully dispose of any harmful or potentially harmful aquatic plant that is clinging or attached to a vessel, watercraft, trailer, motor vehicle, or other device used to transport or launch a vessel or watercraft is unlawful."

I was with a guide one time in a old 20’ Cajun we had been fishing for a good hour and all the sudden my buddy was fishing in the middle was standing in water . The guide goes damn I forgot to put the plug in so I had to reach down with my head under water and put it in for him lol

[/quote]
They even cover that you can leave a ramp with water & fish for a tournament, but only if you have paperwork for that tournament with you to exempt you from the "drain before you depart" portion of the rule.[/quote]

Was wondering how the MLF tourney went from fork to athens in one day to be legal. I thought one had to dry out their boat for 7 days or power wash at a car wash. maybe they did wash all the boats, idk.

Ditto to this. I added it myself and it is absolutely the best thing I have added. Only one time has the bilge automatically started draining and I realized I forgot to close it. If I didn’t have the remote drain plug I would of had to reload boat on trailer.

I haven't seen the bilge of a boat in the water "drain" but the bilge pump will PUMP as water rises.
My boat has a remote drain plug, and it's nice for stopping the forgotten plug issue. I've done it only once....25-30 years ago. I guess a lesson well learned, LOL.

That's my system, too.

Take it out as I tie down the boat before I leave the ramp.
Put it in before I leave the house. Its one of the things on my check list in my head that I do before I leave the house.