What is the best way to unhook a pike ?

[bass_hunter]

Many people say many different things but what do you guys think is the best way to unhook a pike ?

p.s. tmh mind your own buisness

examples from sites :

The Easy way to Get a Pike to Open it's Mouth.

Despite all those teeth, the pike will not bite you, there really is nothing to be frightened of! Look to see just where your hooks are before proceeding to handle the pike! If the pike is small (under 10lb) you may find it easier to lift the fish for unhooking (as above). If it is over ten pounds, it will be better to continue with the unhooking on the handling mat.

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Next, find the gill covers and carefully open them so that you can look inside. Check for the presence of your trebles and if they are well clear insert your fingers staying close to the covers themselves, avoid the red filaments that will also be in view. These are the gill rakers and the bony structure will rasp your skin and cause bleeding if you come into contact with them. Slide your fingers forward towards the snout of the Pike following the "V" of the gill structures. Once you have the Pike between your legs and with your hand in the "V" of the gill structure he/she is at your mercy, you are in control. Close your hand and maintain a firm grip under the jaw, avoid clawing or curling the fingertips. However as there is a risk your fingers will break through the Pikes delicate skin, keep fingertips straight when clenching fist. Maintaining a firm hold, gently pull the Pike upwards and towards you. The Pike has no option but to open its mouth.



Holding a pike vertically is bad or good ? let me know

[orrsey]

The biggest thing is to keep your fingers out of its mouth if possible, they may not bite you but if they slip from your grasp and start to shake at all your gunna want a couple band-aids around. Just make sure you have control over the fish and dont stick your fingers in its mouth if you dont have to. Get a pair of needle nose pliers they do the trick. I dont know a lot about the proper handling techniques but I would say supporting the fish from the head and and under the belly would be best for the fish.
orrsey

[almontefisher]

For me it depends on the size of pike...If small I will hold and remove hook but if large I will leave in net in water and remove hook...take pic quickly and release within 40 seconds to a minute. If anyone sees anything wrong with this please let me know a better way.

[troutnmuskiehunter]

These are tips on PROPER fish handling from MNR....

Handling the Fish
It is important that anglers learn how to hold fish and remove hooks properly.

Handle all fish quickly and gently. Whenever possible, remove hooks without taking the fish from the water. A quick twist with a pair of fishing pliars is often all that it takes to remove a hook. A net can be used to keep the fish in the water while you remove the hook. Even a few inches of water under a fish can reduce injury.

If you use a net to land a fish, consider buying one with a coated or rubberized mesh that helps reduce injury to gills, eyes and fins.

If a fish must be removed from the water, be careful not to drop it. Don't let it thrash around on shore or inside the boat. This can injure the fish and remove the slime coating which helps protect it from disease. Don't keep a fish out of water too long - it needs water for its oxygen supply.

Hook removal devices such as long-nose pliers and surgical hemostats can greatly assist in unhooking fish and minimizing damage. Grasp the hook near the bend and apply pressure to back the hook-point out, opposite to its direction entry. Pliers with side cutters are useful for cutting line or hooks that are difficult to remove. .

Deeply hooked fish require special attention. The best procedure is to cut the line or the hook shank where possible. Attempting to dislodge a deeply imbedded hook will cause even greater damage. Most hooks that remain in fish will eventually rust away or be decomposed by digestive juices.




IF you and your friends want to learn more ...here's the URL

http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/MNR/fishing/catrel.html

[valley_boy]

I do pretty much the same as you almontefisher. But I have a cradle I keep in my boat and any time I land a nice fish, I take the hook out in the cradle and then I can lift it to take a pic. The cradle usually keeps them pretty calm and is probably the easiest way to take a hook out with the fish in the water.

[Wallyboss]

First for an almost first time poster and you tell some body to mind his own business you are not using the perfect way to start. There might be a small feud between other users but it doesn't mean that you have to join the bashing.

The best way to handle all fish is to leave them in the water as much as you can( if possible), a good pair of pliers is necessary for your safety.

If no net available you can leave them on the edge of the water and remove hook there. Or get somebody to help you. Just don't let it flop on the ground. Unless you are keeping the fish for eating, then you can pretty well do whatever you want with it.

[Fishing 24/7]

since iv been fishing this xxx lake i have this thing

8pound and under unhook in water and watch him disapear

8 plus take him out ask help from fishing partner to unhook take pic weight storm him back and watch him disapear!!!

this year we never used a net unless it was for tournements

next year we will have a high quality net!!

cause we missed alot of the trying to reach out and grabing it!

[Fishing 24/7]

the mns said
Deeply hooked fish require special attention. The best procedure is to cut the line or the hook shank where possible. Attempting to dislodge a deeply imbedded hook will cause even greater damage. Most hooks that remain in fish will eventually rust away or be decomposed by digestive juices.

this technic works but dosent mean the fish is ganna be top quality after

let me explain:

twice iv come across bass with hooks that haved pass thru there digestif systeme ripping everything in its way

ended up at the end of the tunnel injuring there (you know what)

i could clearly see that he was still living but had two butt holes!!

the hook just hagging there !!!

after operating the bass and taking the hook off there were released hopping that they heal well

[GetTheNet!!!]

[
this technic works but dosent mean the fish is ganna be top quality after

let me explain:

twice iv come across bass with hooks that haved pass thru there digestif systeme ripping everything in its way

ended up at the end of the tunnel injuring there (you know what)

i could clearly see that he was still living but had two butt holes!!

the hook just hagging there !!!

after operating the bass and taking the hook off there were released hopping that they heal well

But the bass had survived. It might not have if someone had tried to rip the hook out when it was initially hooked.

[Fishing 24/7]

yeah thats right they live

but they dont rust tho

[GetTheNet!!!]

touche

[Graembo]

Yeah, saw that vid, we'll just highilght the word PLIERS (Stocking stuffer maybe?!?!)

G

[Tip-up]

I was in the same situation as you a while back when I hooked my first 10 from shore...Could have been from your so secret lake X Waited a little while longer to tire him out as I didn't want the pike to start trashing on the rocks while I am trying to pick it up and at the same time trying to take a quick video/photo..




Since I had noone to land this fish for me I had to gill it. As soon as the hook was out my right hand slipped under it's belly to suppport it and I released it back into the water (Doesn't the next picture make taking the hook out look so much easier rather than having the fish flip all over the rocks.) The last thing you want to do is drop a pike of that size on a rock. It is very harmfull.

[esoxseeker]

A good pair of jaw spreaders works wonders as well. Opens the mouth up so you don't have to put fingers near those teeth.

[CCLad]

I use a pair of long needle nose plyer's and a fish gag. Make sure the fish gag doesn't have a ton of spring to it. Just need it to pry open the tooth filled mouth.