January and February are funny months, so to speak. We get some warm days that make you wish you were fishing. A lot of us fish during those warmer days. It’s anybody’s call if we get cold weather, freezing rain, temperatures in the teens, or if we get warmer weather some 30 degrees above average and we want to fish now. A lot of us fish Briery Creek Lake, Sandy River Reservoir, and Buggs Island as we know it.

If you are planning to go to Briery, Sandy, or Buggs to fish for crappie (black or white) — and who doesn’t — you better be ready for the changes in length of crappie. Buggs Island Lake/Kerr Reservoir, Briery Creek and Sandy River Reservoirs now have a new nine-inch limit! No crappie less than nine inches long. You are now going to keep a ruler with you to play it safe. I think it’s called Frabill Crappie Measure. They are good things to keep with you. I have two I keep with me all the time. You slide the crappie into the cover, and the cover keeps the crappie in place as you measure it. All you have to do now is look at the measurement line of your catch. I think they go up to 12 inches. My suggestion if you not sure if it’s 8-1/2 inches, 8-3/4 inches or just a hair shy on the nine-inch line, you might want to release it back. I know nobody wants to pay a big fine for a being shy of the nine-inch line on the plastic measurement tool or a ruler.

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