...for serious pike and predator anglers!
Essential Equipment
It is essential that you use a wire trace when fishing for pike. An 18in (45cm) wire trace is highly recommended.
It is essential that you use strong line when lure or bait fishing for pike. I, personally, never use under 30lb breaking strain 'braided line' - i.e. when lure fishing with small, medium or large lures. The only exception to that rule is when fishing tiny ultralight lures - 20lb bs braided line usually being my preferred choice for ultralight lure fishing.
Always set your reel clutch to slip at a sensible 'fish pulling' pressure. Attaching the hook of your to something then applying pressure to the rod, is the best way, in my opinion, of adjusting the clutch to 'fish pulling' perfection. I wonder how many fish have been lost over the years due to an ultra tight, or too loosely set reel clutch - probably many thousands!
When bait fishing, it is essential that you strike straight after a bite has been detected - i.e. to avoid deep hooking.
It is essential that you have in your possession a landing net that is big enough to cope with the largest of pike - as the smallest of waters could produce a monster pike.
It is essential that you have in your possession an unhooking mat and weigh sling that is big enough to cope with the largest of pike. My combined unhooking-mat / weigh-sling is 48 inches long and zips right up - prevent pike falling out when weighing.
It is essential to have good quality hook out tools and a pair of quality hook cutters.
I, personally, use a pair of Berkley long needle nose pliers for unhooking. If I were unlucky enough to get a hook in my finger, which I have twice before, or a hook could not be easily removed from a pike's mouth, the hook can quickly be cut free with my hook cutters. I, personally, use a pair of hand held bolt croppers.
Note: Always remove any pieces of hook from a fish before returning it! Even a small piece of hook left in a fishes mouth or body will in time rust and cause infection to set in. That is not speculation on my part - it is a fact!
It is essential you return a pike to the water as quickly as possible. My favourite saying is - "Never keep a fish out of water longer than you would like to be held under it."
The above are, what I consider to be, the essentials for pike fishing.