most of my biggest pike come while jigging for walleyes also, but thats probably because i spend the most time doing just that. being that its on a jig rod with light line and a small hook, you have to play the fish out to even get it close to the canoe. i guess im blessed with large meat hook hands and have never met a fish i couldnt grab behind the gill plates. i landed at 45 inch muskie from a pile of rocks in a river by just grabbing it after a 45 minute fight. all the guys in my group do it with the behind the gill grab, i dont know if we are all just crazy or lucky or what, but we dont lose many, if any, fish boatside