Unsure about Pike

[little_stephen]

my new home lakes got a new challenge for me in it. Ive spent the last 3 years battling Carp, Catfish, Snapping and Box Turtles, Snakes, and the rare but fun to catch bowfin mixed in with my bass.   None of which posed much of a real threat to the Bass i was landing.

the new lakes got Pike in it tho.    Ive already seen pics from people who live here of half chewed up Bass that got nailed on the way to the boat. (even tho i shore fish)

So im wondering. if my normal bass fishing outfits.....

1.) A 7'  IM7 Graphite Rod Medium Heavy Action paired with a Gander Mtn Classic Baitcaster spooled with 12 or 14lbs Berkely Fireline.   

2.) A 6'6" IM7 Graphite Rod Medium Action paired with a Gander Mtn Classic Baitcaster spooled with PLine 10lbs Floro.   

And 3.) A 7' IM7 Graphite Spinning Rod Medium Action paired with a Medium Sized Gander Mtn Spinning Reel spooled with either 10lbs Spiderwire Braid or 8lbs Berkely Maxx Mono.

....Are going to be able to hold up to these things. I have no idea how big the pike average or range in the lake. But ive never hooked into one before.

The other question is this. if i land one of these gators...... whats the best way to hold it/land it.  I know it sounds stupid. but ive never really dealt with anything with teeth before. much less one that eats a fish i consider to be an apex predator on my old lake for lunch.........

Help!

[Skunked in DR]

First off, enjoy the fact your new lake has pike - they are lots of fun to catch.

Unless your lake grows real trophy pike, your bass gear will be fine.

I would recommend using a flouro or titanium leader with any lure you don't want to lose.  Pike can slice through braid, mono and light flouro with ease.

To land them get a lip gripper and a pair of long needle nose pliers, both are essential for hook removal.

Spoons, in-line spinners and jerkbaits all work well for pike.

[Crestliner2008]

Your bass gear is just fine for pike. As far as handling them is concerned, it's not that difficult. The thing is you have to make sure they are played out. A pike that comes right to you is no way ready to be landed.

Guide the spent fish along side the boat. Extend your hand over the top of the head with fingers on one side and thumb on the other. Grip tightly over the gill plates and lift vertically. As soon as you have the fish up and out of the water, reach with your other hand and grab ahold of one of the gill plates. Grip that plate tight and you can now release your hold across the head. You're all set now to remove the hooks - just keep a tight grip on the lower gill plate.

To release the pike, grab ahold of the tail and keep your hand on that gill plate. Lay it carefully in the water and release the gill plate while maintaining a tight grip on the tail. Move the pike back & forth until it revives and does an "S" curve with it's body. Release it and she should be just fine.

I've caught and landed a lot of large pike in this fashion; my biggest was 22 lbs., taken on a baitcasting rig with 14# mono for the main line and an 18" steel leader. It hit a Wendel's Musky Harasser, which is a large in-line spinner. Caught this girl in July while trolling for pike in 40' of water.

[Marty]

I agree, all those outfits are fine. If I was using leaders I wouldn't trust any fiber, including fluoro; metal only.

[J Francho]

Get a FishGrip.

Do not "play them out" if you intend to catch and release.

Remove the hooks with the fish in the water, if possible.

Do not lift fish over 5 lbs. out of the water by their jaw/gill alone.

Support their body.

When releasing, simply hold them upright in the water, and let their blood shed lactic acid, and refill with oxygen.

Steel wire, sevenstrand, and heavy fluoro all make good leaders.

One dead 10 lb. pike can negate the entire average growth of a population.

[J Francho]

You can use the gill cover as a handle, and then support the mid section with the other hand for a picture.  its just that most guys do it wrong, and get their knuckles sliced up.  You hold the gill cover - not the gills!

Here's a blurry video of a dink that I grabbed by the gill:

Be careful, get the hooks out first, then snap a photo.  this was nearly a disaster, LOL:

[D4u2s0t]

Your bass gear is just fine for pike. As far as handling them is concerned, it's not that difficult. The thing is you have to make sure they are played out. A pike that comes right to you is no way ready to be landed.

Guide the spent fish along side the boat. Extend your hand over the top of the head with fingers on one side and thumb on the other. Grip tightly over the gill plates and lift vertically. As soon as you have the fish up and out of the water, reach with your other hand and grab ahold of one of the gill plates. Grip that plate tight and you can now release your hold across the head. You're all set now to remove the hooks - just keep a tight grip on the lower gill plate.

To release the pike, grab ahold of the tail and keep your hand on that gill plate. Lay it carefully in the water and release the gill plate while maintaining a tight grip on the tail. Move the pike back & forth until it revives and does an "S" curve with it's body. Release it and she should be just fine.

I've caught and landed a lot of large pike in this fashion; my biggest was 22 lbs., taken on a baitcasting rig with 14# mono for the main line and an 18" steel leader. It hit a Wendel's Musky Harasser, which is a large in-line spinner. Caught this girl in July while trolling for pike in 40' of water.

Great info, but you don't want to move the fish back and forth through the water.. the gills are designed to take water one way.  I know many, many people do it that way, not even realizing it's wrong.  Just hold it on the side of the boat gently till it's ready to swim away, and then let go.

[SlateTundra]

Bass gear works perfectly fine, although I would strongly suggest tying on a leader because it will cut mono, flouro, and braid with ease.

It is a aggressive specie, so they love fast erratic lures...jerk baits, spinner baits, spoons, and etc., you get the picture.

I would strongly suggest you handle a pike this way if you're able to handle it with one hand...

http://cdn-write.demandstudios.com/upload//9000/700/50/2/59752.jpg

Try to keep your fingers away, I've cut my fingers many times and I didn't even feel it.