Plug law and ……

So…how many will admit to forgeting to put the plug back in??

For 20+ years I’ve put the plug back in at home before I left, hard to break this habit.

Oh…3 times, but I see a sticker on the dash to remind me coming soon…:)

Al

Ive done pretty good with the boat plug over the years. The routine is taking care of the boat plug at the same time as the back straps. Now forgetting to unhook the the front strap or safety chain while launching in another thing.

I pretty much stay out of MN for the summer.

But, I’ll admit to forgetting to take it out on the way to storage in a couple weeks.

Unless I do the same as you Al. Sticky Note!

It’s going to be a tough one for a while. Most people I’ve talked to don’t even know about it.

My routine has always been to deal with the plug at the same time as the transom straps. So far, I have only forgot the plug once and that was a few years ago before this new law.

Dave

I have only forgot once this year, 1st day of a muskie tourny. I did learn that one can fish for 10+ hours in a Ranger Fisherman without a plug I did not realize I forgot until we were taking the boat out of the water

Never knew how or why I got started at it, but years back I got in the habit of pulling the plug when I tie down and then replace it at the launch. Maybe having BK threaten to start collecting Alumacraft drain plugs had something to do with it jerr

When I have taken the plug out I keep it in my pants pocket untill I get it to the garage and then I hook it to the safety chains on the trailer so when I hook the boat to the truck it reminds me to put the plug back in.

As for forgetting to replace it many times untill I came up with this and not once since

Once. With an audience at the landing.

twice. July 4th at the big pond with DNR watching July 5th with DNR watching they grinned when they saw me put the plug in, but were rolling when I backed in without removing the *&@!@%$! transom straps

Least I don’t feel so bad, twice was when I had help un doing the boat to launch, otherwise when I loosen the transom tie downs is when I normally install the plug.

Bad part is I can’t reach the hole with the plug unless I stick part of my head underwater, so it means back on the trailer…no hiding that boo boo..:)

Al

I’ve forgotten three times this year. Twice, I realized once my feet started getting wet. The third, I remember just after I started the motor, so I got it put in before I took on too much water.

It’s good to know my bilge pump functions properly, though

Some say I have forgotten my plug twice this year, I say I was testing my bilge pump!

Always have taken it out for the 10 years that I have had the boat. Any time I have ever forgotten is when I got help taking the transom saver off. Then I don’t go through the routine at the back of the boat and have forgotten it.

Never really too bad except… the middle of November musky fishing, then reached over the back and promptly put it in the live well opening!!! When water was coming in over the floor, I went “what”!!! I had to beach it and walk in with my sorels and coveralls on!!! Thankfully it was in the forties that day and fished it out.

Mark

I clip mine to the lanyard cord for the e-stop and drape it thru the steering wheel of the boat…which also happens to put it in a direct line with my accessory switch for my electronics…you power up so you have position on the GPS and sonar before you back it in the water…easy way to catch if you have the plug in

I never take my plug out. I dont fill my livewell, my boat stays dry, I see no purpose.

Arrest me.

I forgot once on Mille Lacs I never would have noticed except the auto bilge light came on, and I noticed it. Back on the trailer it went. The guy working at the resort said that the DNR had forgotten as well the day before but almost sank their boat though, so I felt better hearing that. I knew I was going to forget it sooner than later. I never used to pull the plug out ever.

I put a reminder on the set of boat keys. Sure glad I visit this site or would have never known about this law. Never pull the plug. The boat stays pretty dry and what water I do get in the boat, I get out with a small portable shop vac or a towel From Iowa, have a Wis. Lic. so how am I suppose to know? No notices at any of the boat ramps.