By Stewart Bristol  Maine is a big state, with big trout and huge salmon, and more than 6,000 lakes, ponds and rivers to choose from. There's no wondering why, in years past, local anglers would grunt with disgust and toss Black Crappie into the bushes for the seagulls and raccoons. However, in regions of Maine where cold water species have been ruled off limits for the winter, these former trash fish have gained the respect they deserve. The western mountains of Maine, from the New Hampshire border at Bethel to the Rangeley Lakes region is world renowned for trophy trout and salmon waters, but tucked away in those rugged mountains are shining jewels of small ponds that rarely get fished. Hard water anglers can usually fill a bucket with crappie, pickerel and white perch. In fact, most of the waters previously known only for trout and salmon also have viable populations of white perch, crappie and bass. It may seem strange to visit Maine and fish for something other than trout or salmon, but, if you bring the family on a cross-country or downhill ski trip, the crappie and perch will hit more often, making the day on the ice more enjoyable. Black crappie tip the scales over three pounds in Maine waters although most of the fish brought up through the ice will be a pound or a pound and a half. White perch will also tip the scales at over three pounds and hand-lining them through that tiny hole in the ice can be a chore. Even in Maine's ski country the larger lakes and ponds do not freeze completely, shoreline to shoreline. Most angling will be done in protected bays or along the shorelines. With thousands of miles of logging roads and 12,000 miles of groomed snowmobile trails, anglers can plan their fishing adventure via automobile or snowmobile. Some may even choose to cross-country ski or snowshoe into a remote pond. A day or two is never enough to visit any region of Maine and the western mountain region is no exception. By driving up on Friday evening and heading home at mid-day Sunday, you barely have time to scratch the surface of the activities right at hand. Getting around in Maine in the winter is not really that difficult, but there are some cautions. While the black-topped highways are usually kept free of snow and ice, the gravel roads usually are covered with hard-packed snow and can become slippery at the first signs of warm weather or precipitation. Most of the lakes and ponds can be accessed by simply pulling off the road in a safe place. Of course, you need to exercise caution here as well, since many of the high snow banks lining gravel roads are hiding soft or steep shoulders. It's always best to get out of the vehicle and test the shoulder before driving your wheels off the traveled portion.  Almost all the camp owners will allow winter anglers to use their driveways provided you don't block their access, or steal their firewood. During the week anglers have more success in parking at camps since the owners usually use them on weekends. A simple note to the camp owner asking permission for future trips and a thank-you after having used their parking space will enhance your outing today and in the future. Many of the lakes and ponds, especially the smaller ones, are rarely fished during the months of January and February. Ice covering on these small ponds in the western mountains will usually accumulate to over 24 inches. Most will have safe ice to use well into March. While ATV and snowmobiles may be safely used throughout the winter, very few Maine lakes or ponds will support the weight of a modern vehicle. Pressure ridges and beneath ice currents that are not readily seen have swallowed a number of vehicles already this winter. It's always safe to park the vehicle on land and make the short walk onto the ice. It's much easier to get accurate fishing reports from locals during the winter. They don't seem as threatened by the presence of tourists as they seem in the summertime. A cup of coffee or light lunch at any of the dozens of variety stores along the main highways will usually afford an opportunity to gather the information you need. Local tackle shops and sporting goods stores are also great sources of fishing locations and baits. Of course, All Outdoors offers weekly updates from each state via the Alloutdoors.com Today and Adventure Travel sections, complete with road maps and hot links to sources for fishing tackle and licenses. Maine's population of black crappie are the same as found in southern New England and closely related to the crappie found in southern states. However, they are much larger. The first crappie you bring through the ice that makes you wonder if it will fit in a frying pan should get you hooked on these tasty swimmers and forget about the trout and salmon that are swimming around just under your feet. Maine law offers a generous creel limit on crappie. In fact there is no creel or minimum size limit. You can keep all you'll eat. The winter season runs from January 1 through March 31 and opens again when the ice leaves the surface, anytime after April 1. The most successful winter bait is the tiny pinhead minnow or shiner. Maine law prohibits persons from bringing live bait into the state or from emptying leftover bait into any waters. This is to stem the incidence of spiny-rayed bait fish from entering the watershed. I've had better lunch simply drilling a dozen holes from shore to the deep water and jigging.  Crappie jigs are nothing more than a 1/8-ounce jighead wrapped with chennile or maribou, or both. You can buy them for pennies or make your own. Just let the jig drop to the bottom and lift and drop a foot or two at a time until the entire depth is covered. Once you get a strike, make a mental note of the water depth and return quickly. One successful method of crappie fishing is to place a tip-up in every other hole, then jig the open holes. Once a strike is made, raise or lower the tip-ups to the same depth.  Chain pickerel are another common fish species you will encounter in all Maine lakes and ponds. Surprisingly, these fish attain weights and lengths that cause anglers to believe they are northern pike. Most chain pickerel will be a foot or less and not even a pound but catches of five- and six-pound pickerel are common. Maine does offer northern pike fishing, but only in a few ponds and lakes in the central region, around Augusta and the Belgrades Lakes. Smallmouth bass, white and yellow perch will also be found in ponds loaded with crappie. These species will stick to the shallows in winter, making them easier to find. The same baits and methods work well. Should you encounter a trout or salmon, it's important that you not take the fish out of the water. Release the fish while it is still in the hole. A minute or two on the ice will usually kill trout and salmon, and, in the western mountains, they are not legal to keep. While the western mountain region is primarily wilderness, it is one the major hubs of activity during the winter. Surrounding Bethel are several major downhill and cross-country ski areas and is just a short drive across the New Hampshire border to North Conway and the White Mountains. Throughout the winter, the area features special activities. Last winter Bethel made national news as it constructed the world's largest snowman, using tons of snow and attaining a height of over 100 feet. January through March is a wonderful time to visit Bethel and the western mountains of Maine. If you can dodge the major snowstorms, the trip to and from and your stay should be uneventful. If you get snowbound, that's all the better. What could be more pleasant than to be bound to a lodge or hotel in front of a fieldstone fireplace, watching the snow accumulate? For more information on Maine, it's western mountains and winter angling contact any of these sources. Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife www.state.me.us/ifw Maine Office of Tourism www.visitmaine.com and general tourism information, for local events, at http://www.mainetoday.com.

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