NH Fisherman Catches Biggest Lake Trout In New England History

PHOTO: Tom Knight of Center Harbor and his record-breaking lake trout he caught on February 25th in West Stewartstown, NH.
Photo courtesy Cynthia Baker

by Dan Seufert
Weirs Times Correspondent

Eight years ago, Tom Knight of Center Harbor learned first-hand of the state’s lake trout record when he landed a laker in a pond in the northern part of the state which was a half an inch longer than the 1958 record-setting catch, but was under the record lake trout weight.
Catching big fish is nothing new to Knight, who is 59. In 25 years as a commercial fisherman off of the Seacoast, Knight caught more than 100 tuna fish, much larger fish than he’d ever pulled from an inland lake as a fishing hobbyist. But he always wanted to catch “the big one” on a lake, and after the 2012 catch, he set his sights on the state’s lake trout record.
On Feb. 25, fishing with his best friend on a “secret” pond in West Stewartstown, he felt the tug of a lifetime on his ice-fishing line, which was set with his above-ice “tip-up” about 10 yards away from the hole where he caught the first near-record fish. He was using a very small hook and foot-long pile of bait, as usual.
As he pulled the line through the hole, he felt an increasing heaviness. And as his friend helped him pull the fish through the ice hole, he knew what was happening.

When the fish – a 40-inch, 37.65 pounder that was estimated to be 50-70 years old – was out of the water, Knight started pounding his hands on the ice.
“We broke it! We broke it!” he said, referring to the state’s lake trout record, which he had just, indeed, broken. Later, he would learn that his catch also broke the New England lake trout record.
As he watched a video of the catch taken by his girlfriend, he got excited again. “I get goosebumps!” he said. “It felt like it was 40 pounds.”
Knight started fishing at age 3 on Lake Winnipesaukee, where he learned to fish with his family when they summered in the Lakes Region. Late in his commercial fishing career, two hip injuries forced him to leave the business. He moved to a new life in Center Harbor, though he still fishes most every day.
“I love the taste of lake trout, and while we have this virus going on, fishing gives you a sure thing for dinner so you don’t have to count on the supermarkets,” he said.

He just as easily could have caught the record fish in Lake Winnipesaukee or elsewhere during winter and summer months. In fact, he said, some people say you can’t land huge catches in the winter.
That’s one of his secrets. “Fish scanners will tell you where the fish are, but you’re better off trying to fish on the ice because you can pick a spot and stay there, where a boat will drift,” he said. “You can walk to right to where you want to be and then cut a hole.”
He is willing to give out a few of his fishing secrets, though not all. He didn’t want state officials to release the name of his favorite fishing hole or it’s location, for instance, though state law requires it.
“The day after they (publicized) it there were several people down at my holes,” he said.
He won’t tell what his secret bait is. But if you want to top his record catch, use a small hook and bury it inside a foot-long (or longer) wad of bait.
“Big bait, little hook,” he said. “When a lot of people fish, it’s overkill in terms of bait. Just be sure to put your hook in so the fish doesn’t see it.”
Studies, have shown, Knight said, that a lake trout will circle bait for four hours before taking it, so patience is important.

“They have big eyes. If they see a hook in the bait, they go away,” he said. “I have a feeling this fish looked at my (bait) all morning.”
In keeping the rest of his fishing tricks secret, he keeps the competition from topping his record catch.
“I can’t say any more,” he said. “The people that don’t know, well, I’d rather keep it that way.”
Knight said he plans to keep fishing in state lakes, locally and to the north.
“Somebody may catch the next one right on Winnipesaukee,” he said.
In fact, he is now fishing to try and top himself.
“I’m going to have to,” he said. “People are trying to break my record right now.”
To get a close view of Knight’s record-breaking fish, visit George’s Diner in Meredith later this spring. Knight said it will soon be hanging on the restaurant’s wall for public viewing.