Fisherman breaks state record with monster 37-pound lake trout [NH]

CNN ^ | By Alicia Lee, CNN Updated 8:43 PM ET, Sun March 1, 2020

[campaignPete R-CT]

Meredith resident.

Lake not revealed for a reason?

[Calvin Locke]

Yes.

He doesn’t want company competing for dinner at what is probably now his favorite Winter fishing spot...

[lee martell]

Thanks for the answer.

[Andy'smom]

Lake Winnipesaukee. That’s where Meredith is.

[pas]

Not likely when he was ice fishing.

[wastoute]

So then it was the edge of the ice. Same thing. When you drag a fish that big over the edge they do get bruised.

[Hot Tabasco]

It's even more impressive since landing a fish that size on a regular pole would be extremely lucky due to the normal pound test line he would use. Ice fishing you're just using a short hand rig not designed to handle fighting fish that size.

I have a feeling that he probably had to enlarge the ice hole too once he saw what was on the line..........

[ManHunter]

He was ICE fishing folks, i.e., THROUGH the ice. He had to haul it through a hole in the ice, which is pretty dicey with a big fish.

[Red Badger]

we don’t do a lot of ice fishing here in Florida..................

[EVO X]

More than likely he took some damage coming over the gunwhale.

He was ice fishing.

[Paul R.]

The problem with big trout (or most any piscivore) is that they accumulate toxins as they age. This will vary greatly with the waterbody, of course, but there is significant mercury floating over from China, creating sort of a background level. In any event, check with one’s local fisheries biologist or the State DNR.

Of course, if one is over 65, mercury contamination in fish is not likely to matter much unless it’s REALLY bad.

[Paul R.]

Many freshwater fish get “ugly” when old and large. IMO, a 5 lb. channel or blue catfish is a magnificent creature, sleek and strong. (And out of good water, tasty if well prepared!) A 65 b. blue - not so much.

[Bob434]

yeah that’s one problem with fish- especially bottom dwellers like lake trout- Around where we are=- they recommend only eating one fish a week or two- I know folks that eat dozens of fish a week- tried to tell them about the warnings, but they don’t believe it- so whatever- I tried-

[Bob434]

Well so that you don’t feel left out- just drop some ice cubes in the water, bait your hooks with oh i dunno- just bait them- and see if you can’t catch a few ice cubes-

[PrairieLady2]

Lake trout are not bottom dwellers. They like very deep..60-100 feet deep water. They like it cold and clean. They are also fairly picky eaters as the prefer live fresh food. Cat fish are very different. They eat anything that rolls by and will wallo in as little as a foot of nice warm filth filled water.

I’ve never had muddy tasting fish in NH. Even so, if you catch a channel cat or blue cat, the secret of decent flavor is to get the meat off the bones as soon as possible. If leaving the meat on the bones, remove every git of that kidney along eeach side of the spine..wash well. That will go far in improving the flavor..big time.

The lakes in NH are natural lakes and the aren’t the round bowl lakes frequently seen in the west. They are full of fingerling coves usually containing bass and pike as well as big fat pumpkin sun fish.

I loved fishing in NH and used to do so on a daily basis because I loved eating fish. My favorite was pike..aka pickerel. I’ve since had walleye and it’s my favorite now.

I could be mistaken but fresh water fish isn’t mercury laden like ocean fish is. Big deep natural lakes are spring fed so they tend to have a continuous cleaning of fresh water, regularly.

I’ve had big trout, though not as big as the one in the picture. Their meat tends to redden with age..like salmon. But they don’t taste like salmon. They taste like...trout!

[Bob434]

they do spend a l ot of time on or near the bottom- which is where the mercury sinks to because it’s heavier- thats’ what i was getting at-

[[I could be mistaken but fresh water fish isn’t mercury laden like ocean fish is. ]]

There was the whole ‘acid rain’ causing mercury in lakes and streams supposedly- states issued official warnings to stop eating so much fish, and some places limited it to one a week or two weeks can’t remember now-

[McGruff]

Thomas Knight set out on the ice...

[TMN78247]

As I’ve said elsewhere here, a Texas Game Warden heard about my “baby Tiger shark” that I caught on a saltwater flyrod & a BIG streamer fly.
(We weighed, measured, photographed & released her back into the Gulf “to go grow up”.)

The GW said that, “IF I had been lucky enough to taka a Tiger of any size on a flyrod, I’d have her on my den wall.. Take your photos & measurements to any GOOD taxidermist & he’ll make you a replica of your catch that nobody can tell is NOT the real shark.”

Taking the Warden’s advice, I went to a well-known taxidermist in Harris County, who said, “No problem. I should have your mount ready by Christmas.”
(He showed me several replicas of released fish that he has done & they are ARTISTIC & IMPOSSIBLE to tell from a “real mounted fish”.)

Note: TROPHY-SIZE sharks are TOO RARE & GROW TOO SLOWLY to kill any W/O reason.
My advice: PHOTOGRAPH, MEASURE, WEIGH, TAG & RELEASE them & get yourself a replica for the wall, if you want a trophy.
(Other than Bonnet Heads for the table, which are VERY NUMEROUS & great tasting, I’ve not killed a shark in over 4 decades.)

Just my OPINIONS, TMN78247

[Palio di Siena]

He was ice fishing.
No gunnel.

[Stanwood_Dave]

"It says he was ice fishing, so he probably was trolling from a snowmobile."

Do you have any idea what the FINE is for trolling from a snowmobile, when out of season? do I really need the official"/S."