This can go on forever....

"Dang, that worm bag just blew out of the boat. Now I am littering."

"I just HAD to relieve myself, but now I have discharged waste into a public water supply. Oh and I publicly exposed myself while doing it."

"If I leave that dead fish in the livewell during a summer tournament and it spoils, is that wanton waste of game?"

"Shoot, I never did get the inspection sticker renewed on the truck."

"Did I come to a complete stop at that stop sign?"

etc etc.

Point being that most tournaments say "obey/observe all state laws." Not only game laws, but all laws. So, yeah, you could twist yourself up in the gray area(s). I try not to, but I know that I am the type that lets those little things creep in and would probably show funny results on a poly. I have been told if in that situation to just mention those and the poly can/will be adjusted accordingly. I think the main line the TDs take is that if it is something little that does not gain you an advantage then it is overlooked. Always interested to hear the TDs on the board chime in on things like this though.

FWIW, the lifejacket/killswitch deal mentioned above I don't think is a DQ and I have always disagreed with the strict rule of having it done before the engine starts. On plane, absolutely, but too many times in windy conditions you need to crank up to get off rocks or avoid a boat house and you don't have time to for that.

Oh and so this isn't a complete hijack... Even if putting out a brushpile is illegal, fishing one is not, so you are good unless the tourny rules say "never violated any laws ever in the history of your time on Earth." Good luck with that.

Yea i see all the points to the subject. I put out brush piles and I fish them in tournaments (if the fish are there lol)... its just an interesting subject because you put out 25 trees and you break a lake law by doing it. Then a week later you catch 20+ pounds on it during a tournament and win. The guys behind you never knew it was there....

It is worth it to call the governing authority for the body of water. I called the LCRA about a couple lakes and they specifically told me that there was no law against putting out brush piles, but to be careful where I placed them since they can become hazards when the water levels are low.

If that is the way the rule is written, yes. That's why I like BLT's rule "life jacket on while outboard is in gear" rather than "anytime outboard is on."

The COE will allow you to put out brush piles. You must first go to the office and tell them you are doing so and give the location of where you are putting them so they may mark it on the map. I have quite a few on Lewisville but I never saw the COE mark it on there map when I gave them the location. As said earlier they just want to make sure it won't become a hazard with the fluctuating lake levels.