Proper Pike Handling & Release


First off, we'd like to say that we support selective harvest of pike and belive that in most cases it is ok to keep a few smaller pike for eating.  That said, this page is dedicated to the proper catch, handling and release of larger and trophy pike.  There is a lot of information out there about the subject.

Here are links to the Pike Anglers Club of Great Britain page on pike handling and a link to Szczupak.org, a German website, 
which contains links to a series of articles published on the subject by Esox Angler Magazine.


Our summary regarding the handling of pike is as follows:


Have a Plan
Decide before you go fishing whether or not you are going to keep or release the pike, and if so, what sizes, if any you would keep. Know whether or not you will be measuring or weighing and/or photographing the pike to be released.
Have the Proper Equipment
You should, at a minimum, have the following:
♦ A quality landing net or cradle of sufficient size
♦ Long nose pliers (11 inches or longer are best)
♦ Quality hook cutters
♦ Jaw Spreaders (to be used only if completely necessary)
♦ Measuring and/or weighing device (if applicable) and weighing sling.
♦ A point and shoot camera (if applicable)

Hooking and Fighting
It is best to use barbless hooks if possible. For live bait you should either use a quick strike rig or circle hooks (the jury is still out on their use for pike fishing) so that you can set the hook immediately when the pike takes the bait. You should pay close attention to your rods and use bite indicators or alarms if necessary. The rod, reel and line you use should be sufficient to land the largest pike that you may be after without unnecessarily prolonging the fight, while still providing a sporting aspect.
Landing
To land the fish you should either hand land them or use a knotless coated net or cradle of sufficient size to hold the pike without bending its body to a large degree. Some feel that hand landing is the best whereas others believe that you have to tire the fish more than necessary in order to land them by hand.
For ice fishing, you should not use a gaff and a two-handed grab on the body is better than a gill grab.
Unhooking and Handling
It is best to unhook the pike in the water if possible. If the pike is to be brought on board a boat or onshore, it should be kept in the cradle (if one was used) or placed on an unhooking mat so that it does not lose more of its slime coating than necessary. You should place the pike directly on the floor of a boat. The hooks should be removed as quickly as possible and a jaw spreader should only be used in cases of deeply hooked fish. If it is not possible to unhook the fish, the hooks should be cut off to the greatest extent possible. The fish should always have its weight supported by two hands and be held horizontally. Holding by the meat of the tail and belly is preferred. If you use a gill hold, be sure to use caution to not injure the fish. Never hold a large pike vertically as it can cause great damage to the jaw area and internal organs of the fish.
For ice fishing, it is best to unhook the fish in the water if possible.
Measuring/Weighing
If the pike is to be measured it is best done in the water if possible. If a more exact measurement is to be taken on an unhooking mat, it should be completed quickly. If girth is to be measured, make sure that you have a flexible measuring tape handy. To weight a pike, you should place it in a weighing sling and quickly take the weight. You should not weigh a pike that you plan to release by holding it vertically by the jaw with a weighing device.
Photographing
Decide ahead of time if you are going to photograph your catch. Make sure your camera has sufficient power and either film or disk space. You should also have the camera on a point-and-shoot mode if possible to decrease the time involved in taking the photo. Photographing the fish in the water is best. If you wish to hold the fish, keep it in the water until you are ready to take the photo.
Releasing
The pike should be supported upright until it regains its balance, breathes on its own and can swim away. Its head should be placed into the current if applicable. Do not pull the fish back and forth; just support its weight until it is ready to go. For ice fishing, the pike should be placed back into the hole and its tail held until it swims off.