[saxmatt]

I agree about keeping your fingers out of the gills, but grabbing a pike by the gill plate while putting your other hand under the belly to support the weight of the fish is fine. I prefer grabbing big pike by the gill plate especially through the ice because I feel like I have more control over the fish and it is less likely to start thrashing around and damage itself on the ice, rocks, boat or whatever other hard surfaces I might be around. 2 hands under the belly is good too but you don't have as much control over the fish. Either way it's good to kneel down and keep the fish low to the ground in case it goes bananas and flies out of your hands.