ive seen some people grab them by the eye sockets

Hello all, first post on the forums.  I've been  a bass fisher up at our cottage for the last few years and this year I've decided to get more into Pike and Walleye fishing as well.  I've caught pike when ice fishing but summer is a little different.  I wanted to know where to grab pike safely as I've seen people grab them by the gill flap but I have also seen people do it wrong.  Does anyone have any pictures/illustrations so I don't look like I put my fingers through a cheese grater?  Thanks for all the help!

How are you, Tim, & welcome to the Forums.  If you're a new NAFC member, welcome to the Club, too.

 

The best way to land a pike is in a net or a pike sling.  The best place to grab them to dig the hook out:  grab the smaller ones behind the head from the top, the larger ones by the gill plate.  Be sure to keep your fingers along the outside plate.  Stay away from those gill rakers, or you'll do a dance!  The best place to grab them for pictures:  the same spots, & maybe a hand under the tail to show it horizontally.

 

Again, welcome to the Forum.  There's a good bunch of guys here, & you'll learn & laugh a lot.  So, grab a cup of coffee & enjoy.

Keep the line fresh, the hooks sharp, and have fun fishing. God bless you. -Sonny, Life Member since 2002

welcome aboard tim. what i do is grab 'em from the back of the head and put my thumb and fore finger under each gill plate. this usually works long enough to get the hook out. if the fish has an attitude put VERY gentle pressure on the gill with your thumb. hope it helps and remember if'n that fish wants a chunk of you for a souvenier there's very little you can to stop it.

I use either a net or  bota grip.  I don't have the hand strength to grab them behind the gill plate. 

hey tim just grab them under the gill plate that usally works the best but make sure you hold on tight they like human fingers better than perch. rawdawg20 life member since 10-4-07

Get yourself a lipgripper. Doesn't harm you or them.

Lifemember and Bushwacker SMF http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u194/wellsleyny/NAFC_Life_Member1.jpg

Thanks for the advice guys.  Yeah I'll probably be netting them and going from there.  That lip grabber looks pretty neat too.  Does the gill plate have a sharp edge on it though?  I thought that I heard someone talking about watching out for the gill plate but maybe they meant the rakers.  Once again, I appreciate the advice!  Only two weeks till I can get out and fish!

Pike have a tendency to catch you by surprise and cut the he** out of your thumb. The Berkly Lip Grip is a great tool for pike, muskie, or any other fish for thet matter. Never used one till last summer in Canada and have got my own now.
Always drink upstream from the herd----- Life member since March 1990

Handling a pike is no worse than handling salt water species.  If the fish is small enough, grab by the head (back of) squeezing the gill plates together.  This will quiet them right down.  For the bigger fish I would recommend the "gripper".  I hope this helps!
LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif

Thanks for the tips guys.  I went out and bought a lipgripper because it looks like an awesome tool to have just in case I land one of the monsters out there.  So far, two days of fishing and two 18-20 inchers.  Just hand grabbed em because the wind around here has been so strong we'd be in shore if I didn't get em off quick.

The temp finally picked up a little so I'm hoping for the fish to come out of the deep water into the shallows soon.

You never want to grab them by the eye sockets, you'll blind the fish and kill them. That's one of those misinformation things that goes against logic.
Always drink upstream from the herd----- Life member since March 1990

Sounds like you found them Tim, keep up the good work. Now you need to get a digital camera so you can post a few pic's. Good luck and its good to hear from you.
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