How much water to drain?

[NWMNMom]

I have been told that the average is 6"-12" below skimmer/returns depending on your average seasonal precip - My choice is somewhere in between as my winter cover choice is mesh.

[matt4x4]

I drain to the bottom of the return, anything I collect in moisture over the winter either collects as a solid on top of the block of ice or runs back out the return hole which is left open.

[NWMNMom]

Matt do you remove/unscrew the return jet eye and items from the inside of the pool so that any water/ice that does fill up that far won't catch it and pull or rip the liner?