I'd like others to chime in here please.
But I'll start with an observation and see what some more experienced fishermen think.

Once I get a hold of a big Pike with my lip grippers. I keep it's head underwater. My intent was mostly to let it breathe. But I'm finding it stays pretty calm too. Heard a remark once that SM will jump out of the water cause it's easier to shake it's head to spit things out. Theory is less resistance to throwing it's head in the air, than in the water.

Last fall some tripping members struggled with a large pike ~38". Holding it up out of the water and trying to control it. It twisted and shook itself till it's jaw ended up being broken. I was nearby in my solo, but in the excitement advise is hard to hear even if it's given. 1st big fish for the guy catching it and it took several fumbles, well it just wasn't very smooth. Everyone was sorry how it turned out.

Not much later I caught another ~38". Things went so much better and couldn't have been more different. Even though I was in a solo it was a nice safe release for both me and the fish. I had to use a spreader too. Also I had removed all but the back treble hooks from my lures.

The take away for me is just keeping the fish's head underwater as much as possible. Pike are pretty tired once you land them and only want to recover. It's a good time for me to calm myself and slowly go through the steps to release the fish and keep us both safe.

Pictures without the orange handle grippers are better IMO.

Grab the bottom gill cover near the front of the bottom lip, tight, away from the sharp gills.

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