Hey guys, can you give me a hard and fast rule about running beneath a bridge? No Wake signs at Fork, but at Sandlin, no signs, and at Pines yesterday, boats on pad under the 155 bridge often. I always idle under a bridge, but maybe for no reason. I am respectful of anyone fishing near or beneath the bridge, but many times, it is open and clear to go. Is there a 'law' or 'rule' against being on pad, unless posted, or am I just being overly cautious? Thanks,
Jim

If it's marked then idle, if not, run it at your own risk. I don't think I've ever seen anyone idle the Hwy 155 bridge at Pines unless another boat is coming.

We need to find out if it is a state law to idle under the bridges. I too saw many of the tournament guys two weekends ago running on plane under the 155 bridge. Several times when I slowed down I almost got ran over and got several dirty stares. Does anyone know the law on this. take care.

randy

There is NOT a no wake restriction under the 155 bridge at LOP. Different lake have different regs. Most of the time there are people fishing there so most boats will slow down but don't have too.

Fork used to not have the 'NO WAKE' under the bridges. I believe several years ago the crappie fisherman got to complaining to much on Fork. There used to be a time when crappie fishermen were thicker than fleas under the bridges on Fork. I don't see those signs on bridges of other lakes all the time but some do have them.

http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/2148228/1

That is a link to this topic that went about 8 pages.

In a nutshell there is a law that states you must be operating your boat in a safe manner around the bridges. It's open to the GW's interpretation.

You can run a boat on pad under a bridge that is NOT marked no wake. However, for what its worth you cannot operate a jet ski on pad under the bridge unless you will be 50ft clear on all sides of any structure. (bridge pillars) I watched the Lake Worth marshall last year writing ticket after ticket to jet skis running the 820 bridge while not even giving boats a second look. Someone will probably get on here and say I am wrong, but I will take the word of the Marshall writing the tickets and keep running the bridges that are not marked no wake or idle only.

The hard and fast rule is that there is no hard and fast rule. If the bridge is marked "no wake" or "Idle only", etc. then that is what the rule is. If it's not marked, you can run on your pad under it.

I'll bet they were cussing me yesterday at LOP for idling under the bridge, there was a boat fishing near by so I slowed down, but I usually slow down under bridges. I guess I coulda got run over.

Pat,
Getting ready for Individual, huh? Did you do any good?

do it if you want, but be careful - it's hard to see what yahoo wakeboarder is running parrallel just on the other side of the bridge

Confucious Say:
"Man who run on pad for bridge too low will be late for his wake."

Thanks for all the input guys. Seems to be a 'common sense' issue unless 'posted' otherwise. Shouldn't be a problem, I can read, and have used common sense on occasion as well.
Appreciate the input.
Jim.

the reason Fork has them is ..a fisherman under a bridge was waked by a boat and broke his neck on the bridge ..(he died )
guess that is a complaint