looking for the best way to grab a pike over 36". normally i drag it a little to shore, still leaving it in the water, and then use my pliers to remove the hook. problem is i have to hold the hook very hard and be prepared for it to slash so i don't get hooked. it's effective but crazy. it looks like a giant explosion. i don't carry a net when im shore fishing, and trying to gill it with a giant jerk bait in its mouth doesn't look to safe.

In that situation of large pike, no net and treble hooks, I think your best bet would be a lip gripper. I have a couple of these cheap ones from Cabela's.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0012971013780a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCH_all&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&Ntk=Products&QueryText=grip+holder&sort=all&Go.y=0&N=0&Nty=1&hasJS=true&_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jsp.form23&Go.x=0

J Franco would say a FishGrip, or something like 

I have used those FishGrip devices that Cabelas sells on Northern Pike and Pickerel, and I realy like them.

I do some shore fishing for muskies. 2 sugguestions for you.

First, pick up one of the Lindey gloves (the orange one)!

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_38705____SearchResults

Second, I use a grip as well. I prefer the Rapala grip.

http://www.rapala.com/products/tools/lock_n_weigh/

I prefer this grip because the head of the grip spins and if the fish goes into a death roll, it won't wrench your wrist or rip the grip out of your hand. 

Between these two items, you should be able to handle any size pike you catch. Hope this helps and good luck!

I use a boga grip to grab it by the lip. Once unhooked you can grap it under the jaw for a picture. Like this.

J Franco would say a FishGrip, or something like

Fish Grip or Boga works the best.

A baseball bat usually does the job! jk

A baseball bat usually does the job! jk

Be thankful you're on Bass Resource and not one of the musky boards! You could be banned for a comment like that on one of those! LOL!

Haha! Pike aren't allowed in my boat unless it is for a picture. They stink something fierce! I usually just use pliers over the side of my boat...but last year I ended up with a handful of trebles and then dropped my Leatherman($60) in 50 feet of water when one thrashed around. I may have used a baseball bat that day if I had one on my boat! lol

A baseball bat usually does the job! jk

Be thankful you're on Bass Resource and not one of the musky boards! You could be banned for a comment like that on one of those! LOL!

...you can grap it under the jaw for a picture. Like this.

Jeez Dwight, that's a giant!   Did you get a measurement on that beast?  Looks well over 40 and girthy...

yeah, that is a biggun...gotta be d**n near 50, if not over....

some dudes have all the luck    ...i still gotta break into the 40's!! 

by the gill plate...just like the skis