Maybe I'm the only one have this problem but I'll ask for advice anyway.
I just took my new (to me) for it's first trip. I ended up doing a lot of fishing, at least more than usual because we base camped mostly this time.
The other two on the trip didn't want to fish much so most of my fishing was me out by myself in the solo. I had no problems with the small to medium northerns or any of the bass. The one problem I had was I caught one large northern (I know, great problem to have) I'm sure my eyes exagerated it (maybe a lot  :o ) but in the water next to the canoe it looked to be almost as long as my paddle (58", I like a long paddle) I got it up to the canoe and it sat there for a while right next to the canoe. I seldom pack in any net and didn't have one this time. I reached for it like normal but I started to think that if it thrashed at all while I was pulling it in it might tip me over. While I was trying to figure out what to do it got off and it never struck again.
My question is, especially solo in a narrow solo canoe, how do you safely land a large fish? Do I have to really play it out and just hope it gets tired before I lose it? Maybe paddle toward shore with one hand and try to at least be shallow when I pull it in? Any other ideas? It's not that I catch a lot (or really hardly any) fish like this but if I do again I want to at least get a picture.

This is where one of those cheap orange fish grippers I favor would come in handy.

They have a bungee cord for your wrist. When you bring that monster along side and its temporarily exhausted, clamp on and take your picture with your free hand. This is where a small digital camera comes in handy. CVS sells a waterproof " throwaway" digital sports camera for cheap. Strictly point and shoot, easy with one hand. I take one and keep in shirt pocket for quick shots. If it starts thrashing, you can easily un-clamp with one hand.

You could also lay your paddle next to fish in water ( assuming your spare is handy ;)), and use it for as a way to determine scale/length and keep the tale factual ;D

The fish grip floats, so that's not an issue. For under $20, I don't think there's a better fish aid out there.

You might want to carry a logging chain for such an occasion. Just thread it & allow it to tow your canoe accross good holes. ;) ;)

Haul it to shore.  Stay safe.

Very few of my releases ever involve getting the fish in the boat.  I fish 100% barbless hooks.  Requires a little more skill to keep the fish on, making it a fair fight.  Releases are easy unless the fish is really foul on the hooks or swallowed deep.

If you do play it out, take the time to revive it pls.  Sometimes it takes as long or longer than the fight!  I once spent 20 minutes on a musky.

i use (by most standards)unnecessarily light tackle, so most of my fish are landed after a long fight. i would never try to boat a large 'green' fish. things can go bad too fast if a fish is fresh. and yes, after a long fight there are times where you have to revive it for a while before it swims off. i land all of my fish by hand, t-boning them right in the narrow spot at the top of the gill plates. then i set the rod down and grab under the gills.

in this order in this fashion is my style
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i have large hands, so this method may not work for you. the orange jaw grippers are probably the safest most consistent method.

I never catch really big fish but I have had some Northern and lakers I could not get my hand to reach across there back to pinch there gills shut.  On those rare occasions I play then a little longer then as I try to get a grip on them I role them on their side belly toward the canoe and pin them against the canoe.  I can then slide them up the side of the canoe to where I can reach them with the other hand.

That's a big bad boy. Any pike over 44" gets a tow to shore where you can get out and work with him proper like. I'm a huge fan of the boga but you best be holding on tight as the real fight with a big pike begins when you grab hold of them. I think it a poor choice to bring a really big fish into the boat.

My recent capsize was a wake up call of just how quickly things can go awry while dealing with big fish. I had never envisioned ending up in the water after breaking my line. If I had my bow pointed at the fish while trying to pry him out of the cabbage no harm would of happened. Instead I was sideways and the sudden unexpected line breakage gave me enough momentum to carry me over. I really wish I could of had a do over as I would of given her slack and eased right on top of her before easing her out. Pulling just made her dig in deeper. More and more weeds. In spite of going over I'm upsizing my line to 20lb xt while throwing the big lures but I will certainly be a bit wiser. 

Landing big pike in the canoe is learned - it takes practice.  So many variables and conditions that you have to create for things to go right but it eventually becomes second nature.  I would disagree with MT about bringing to shore as well.  You're just adding an uneccary step and potential for something else to go wrong.  When you have that 46" of pike up near the boat and it's time to gill it - you can't  hesitate.  You need to find the gill, slip your fingers in quick and do it with authority.  Hesitation and a loose grip equals bloody hand.  I would never use a fish gripper on these fish either.

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PhantomJug wrote on Jul 7^th, 2011 at 5:02pm:

You need to find the gill, slip your fingers in quick and do it with authority.  Hesitation and a loose grip equals bloody hand.

Best advice for anything.  More accidents happen from trepidatious action.
Aslo be prepared to let go with authority.   ;)

Having never landed a NP that I couldn't grab across the back behind the gill plates, I had heard of but never tried the gill to jaw technique.

I found this article which I found very informative and maybe others will who have never caught or hope to catch a trophy NP.

The guy seems very knowledgeable about handling them, but like everything he has his detractors. Scroll thru replies and you'll see what I mean :-/

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I can agree with much of what has been said but in the same breath I have experienced some misgivings with pike. They are unpredictable at best. I have ended up with a big treble in my palm (rapala magnum) trying to release an average northern with a pair of channel locks. Reached down while it was still in the water and tried to remove the hooks while it was floating (mistake #1). Fortunately the fish jumped off and I held onto the channel locks and was able to crimp the barb and slide it back through. This happened some 30 years ago and left quite an "impression".

I am still loathe to lift a pike over 44" in my solo. In a tandem I wouldn't think twice...........A bell northwoods is a very stable platform.

Nice looking fish PJ........I love the markings on pike.
PJ is quite likely right about avoiding lipper tools and learning to slide in from behind the gills. I suspect an orange lipper is a poor way to handle a big northern. When they start spinning and twisting it would be a strong grip indeed that would be able to hang on. I still like my boga because it is free spinning while my wrist still stays in one place. Slick tool. I would suggest becoming familiar with what works on smaller and midsized fish until you become confident and proficient. As pointed out to hesitate and not have confidence is likely to end in a poor result for you and the fish.

Still reluctant? Try using some of the "fish handling" gloves made by Lindy. Basically tooth and hook proof.

MT, I'll stick with the orange lip grippers. I used them to handle a 46" pike soloing. You're right about keeping a tight grip when they try testing your hold though. The Orange Grippers won't fail as long as your grip doesn't.

Once the hooks are removed the pictures look better without the orange grippers.

Voyageur is on the money. While not in a canoe, I have landed pike in the mid-40 inches by hand. The key is when your index finger under the gill cover (and not touching the gills) and thumb on the outside come together, pinch them together and lift. Keeps fingers away from hooks as well and works with fish large enough that you cannot reach across the shoulders.

I like the thought of holding the fish with my hand.  I normally wear fingerless gloves while paddeling.  when fishing I usally have a pair of gloves handy for handeling fish.  Call me a priss but I dont like fish slime on my hands...ewww.  I favor the work gloves at Menards.  My hands are soft from working at a desk all day so when I go into the wild I want to protect them.  Even around home when I fish I have gloves or handy.

I got a pair of the orange grippers for our trip next week. Have always just gone behind the gills, "across the shoulders" in the past. I hope to catch one too large to be able to grab the shoulders on this trip :). I will include my .02 regarding the gripper with my report.

J

Those orange grippers are just ok. They don't secure the fish very well so you have squeeze down while an angry pike is flopping around your outstretched arm. You just need to be ready for it.

Nothing is better for this than a Boga Grip. They are pricy but they are made in USA and last forever.

we used the orange grippers last year and i thought they worked great. better than expected. but none of the pike were over 35".

They do hold a 46" pike. But the grippers don't spin, so you need a firm grip and be ready.
Don't go for the top lip either.

They are light and float. Cheaper doesn't hurt either.