Females require 14 to 17 years to reach 30 pounds. Northern pike grow even more slowly. Once taken out of the water and hung on a wall or carved into fillets, a trophy is not soon replaced by another fish of its size. Unfortunately, some fish are mortally injured by improper handling and cannot be successfully released. All northern pike and muskie are difficult to handle because of their slippery hides, lack of good handles and sharp teeth.
Big fish are particularly troublesome because of their great size and power.
The first step to successfully releasing fish is to use artificials rather than live bait. The second step is to keep the fish in the water if at all possible. Caught on artificials and handled carefully, nearly all fish can be returned with no permanent injury. Hooks can be removed from some fish even as they remain in the net in the water. If that's not possible, lift the fish aboard and remove the hooks while the fish is held behind the head and around the tail.