http://www.tpwd.texas.gov/publications/pwdpubs/media/pwd_bk_l2000_0014.pdf

Read the law and understand it. Start on page 31.

Bridges are no wake zones only when marked. However, there are other provisions that you can be cited for. Like operating a boat in an "unsafe manner". You run parallel to the bridges on Fork, throw a big wake and bang someone's boat against the pilings, the GW can and SHOULD issue you a ticket if he witnesses it. All of these questions can be answered by reading the Texas Water Safety Act. Don't ask others, learn it for yourself.

I'm not picking on Will or anybody else but it amazes me somethimes on the posts we get here
come on guys....... really.....""Whats the difference between running WOT in a timber lined boat lane/channel vs WOT under a bridge???"

I tell what I'll make a deal with u, u post what lakes your gonna be on during the week and I will make sure
I go somewhere else

I'm referring to marked boat lanes where the trees are pretty far from the marked lane (buoys or telephone poles) - there are more narrow lanes that have trees on both sides that I would not feel comfortable doing anything other than idling. Just my take from being on big lakes this year in a full size boat, some people are just crazy and rude, either at the ramps or on the water. But not everyone, however like anything else, those bad apples are the ones all the other boaters (crappie fisherman, catfish fishing, recreational, etc) remember and put everyone that is bass fishing in a modern bass boat all in the same category.

I have mostly fished from small buster type boats and Jon boats etc. and I would much rather have you fly by me on pad or no wake at all then somewhere in between. I will say from lots of experience in the small boat, the difference in the wake between WOT properly trimmed on pad and no wake is not much different. It is the guy in the tri hull or that thinks he is doing you a favor going by slow but with the bow of the boat way up in the air that will kill somebody! I think the bridge thing has more to do with not being able to see the traffic on the other side than throwing crappie guys out of their boats. Main thing is be smart and courteous and you won't get tickets and you won't make others mad.

If you think about Lake Fork it is probably a pretty good law. Many of the main bridges are like 4-way intersections. People are running parallel to the bridge as well as crossing underneath them.

Can you imagine if it wasn't required to idle under teh bridge during one of the big tournaments like McDonalds or Skeeter owners?

It would be like the intersection of Loop 323 and Broadway way in tyler with no stoplights.

It's a good law IMHO.

I believe a guy was killed on Fork by a wake under the 515 bridge.

What about Texoma? You'll see OK boats come off plane, and TX boats blast right under the RR tressle or the Roosevelt. I called the Oklahoma Parks and Wildlife and asked that question. They said to call the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety. Neither one could give me an answer. So, since I got TX numbers...hammer down.

Exactly sir

the only lakes in OKIELAND that I know of that are no wake are run by the grda (grand river dam authority). grew up there and just lived there another 14 yrs before moving here.

I shared a place at Fork for 10 years during the period where there were no signs and common practice to go on pad thru the bridges and did it many times myself as did everyone else. Once the signs went up always no wake. I sometimes crappie fished under the 154 bridge and did not mind them on pad as long as they were at least a couple pilings away from us.

I do think the no wake deal is best for safety all the way around but I kind of doubt many tickets have been written for going parallel to the bridge. Not saying they should or should not just saying doubt it happens very often. Where would you draw the line on how far away you can parallel the bridge?

WormDudeMike hit the nail on the head. Bridges are used as intersections on many lakes and not just Fork. The pilings can cause blinds spots at certain angles and that equals a train wreck. Safety over WOT and risking someone's life.

My point behind this post is to show that there really isn't a difference in either situation both are dangerous!!! Ask Gerald swindle, ask the guys that constantly crash running the reeds on okeechobee, the wake board boats that I see everyone complaining about or the many post on here about the guys on fork apologizing for being in a hurry. I mean this is a discussion forum where things are talked about and knowledge is shared other than just bragging on how good of a fisherman we all are.

if you look at the bridges on fork and realize that at full pool you really don't have room to run on pad in most places then it makes sense from that aspect, blind spots are another.

there is nothing on this planet worth injuring or killing someone just for a few hrs of fun and relaxation.

My only comment is runing under the 515 bridges at Fork present no blind spots if your running the appropriate boat lane. From what I have heard some dumb kids hit the bridge while drink a while ago and TPWD made them idle only. I will always idle bridges in low light or dark conditions but regularly I don't see why it's a law

Because a percentage of our population is so stupid that laws have to be made to protect them from harming others and themselves.