I normally just use my pliers for a quick release or grab the fish on the back of its head. How do I hold it properly for a picture without hurting the fish or myself?

There is two ways to hold them. One will not harm the fish. The other might it depends on were you stick your hands. The less harmful way is to get a set of boca grips. Put it on the bottom lip. As you lift put yout other hand right in front of the bottom rear fin for support. Do not do this. Even with boca grips.

This is what has worked for me and others for years.

Not me just goggled pictures of peoople holding muskies.

That's Zona with a beauty!

You should gill them and support their belly just like shown. Love catching skis!

This is definitely not how to do it.

I will learn from his mistake and use a net or at least support the weight of the pike if it's a big fish.

I didn't even realize it was Zona.

And what happened in the video. It happens from time to time. Even with supporting the belly.

Real men lip them like a largemouth.

Real men lip them like a largemouth.

They kiss them on the lips too.

Pucker up!

Real men lip them like a largemouth.

beat me to it I was just about to type a smart arse reply about liping them

A cradle net is the best way to safely handle big pike or musky. Without that, you need to make sure they are played out and coming along side the boat. Grap across the top of the head to hold the fish in the water. (This way, if they explode and take off, they will be going away from you and keeping the lure away from your hands!) Then reach under the gill plate and grab ahold of it TIGHTLY. (Make sure you are NOT grabbing the gills themselves!) When you have it gripped well, hoist her aboard, keeping your other hand under the belly. I've caught a lot of big pike this way, never wanting to remove their protective slime with a net. My PB (pike) is 22#, hand landed as described. That was back in 1974.

A cradle net is the best way to safely handle big pike or musky. Without that, you need to make sure they are played out and coming along side the boat. Grap across the top of the head to hold the fish in the water. (This way, if they explode and take off, they will be going away from you and keeping the lure away from your hands!) Then reach under the gill plate and grab ahold of it TIGHTLY. (Make sure you are NOT grabbing the gills themselves!) When you have it gripped well, hoist her aboard, keeping your other hand under the belly. I've caught a lot of big pike this way, never wanting to remove their protective slime with a net. My PB (pike) is 22#, hand landed as described. That was back in 1974.

22lb pike out of new England is a very fine PB.

beat me to it I was just about to type a smart arse reply about liping them

I quit fishing for 23 years. Two years after getting back into it I caught a pickerel on a Smithwick (3 treble hooks).. Not big, but feisty. I had forgotten about their teeth. I lipped it . Then couldn't let go. Impaled one of the hooks in my thumb. No one around. Was able to put one of the off hooks over my rod and pull the hook out. Thumb looked like mincemeat by the time I got that fish unhooked. No way will I live long enough to forget about their teeth again.

22lb pike out of new England is a very fine PB.

We are very fortunate to have the records we've accumulated over the years, here in MA. For instance:

Northern Pike - 35 lbs. even

LM Bass - 15 lbs. 8 oz.

SM Bass - 8 lbs. 2 oz.

Tiger Musky - 27 lbs. even

And here's what my PB looked like. Unfortunately, back then, they didn't have replica mounts like we have today, so this was made into a skin mount and ended up on my den wall for many years. This is the only pike I've not released. We were slow trolling for pike with Wendel's Musky Harrassers, in 20 FOW. Caught in Onota Lake in 1984 - in open water (not thru the ice!). We've nailed many large pike there and in Pontussic, Buel and the Ct. River itself. We've caught & released many in the 12 - 15 lb. class here, but few people, besides us, actually fish for this incredible species.

Gave me a chuckle looking at this old pic once again. On the front page of a Berkshire Newspaper that year. The reporter only had a black & white camera! And boy, did I have a not-so gray beard back then!

Hell of a fish! Congrats

We are very fortunate to have the records we've accumulated over the years, here in MA. For instance:

Northern Pike - 35 lbs. even

LM Bass - 15 lbs. 8 oz.

SM Bass - 8 lbs. 2 oz.

Tiger Musky - 27 lbs. even

And here's what my PB looked like. Unfortunately, back then, they didn't have replica mounts like we have today, so this was made into a skin mount and ended up on my den wall for many years. This is the only pike I've not released. We were slow trolling for pike with Wendel's Musky Harrassers, in 20 FOW. Caught in Onota Lake in 1984 - in open water (not thru the ice!). We've nailed many large pike there and in Pontussic, Buel and the Ct. River itself. We've caught & released many in the 12 - 15 lb. class here, but few people, besides us, actually fish for this incredible species.

Gave me a chuckle looking at this old pic once again. On the front page of a Berkshire Newspaper that year. The reporter only had a black & white camera! And boy, did I have a not-so gray beard back then!

That's a nice fish, for sure