Quote:
Originally Posted by RavYak
Picking up a fish by the tail is only practical for getting a picture once they are unhooked. You can't safely remove a hook etc while trying to hold a fish by its tail...
The gill plate grab is the best for pike because it allows you to control their head and it also forces them to open their mouths. A neat trick when trying to remove deeper hooks is to push/hold their mouth open with your middle and ring finger when holding them this way. Once you get good at this you will rarely ever need to use jaw spreaders.
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I never fish pike intentionally. If I catch them it's not on purpose and any I do are always released by unhooking them in the water at boatside. You land one in a net and your net stinks for weeks. I can't stand the slimy things.