What happens when a pike swims off with your lure'

That is why I try to never take them, or any fish, out of the water if I intend to release them. I have a huge landing net that I can keep them in and get the hook out of the mouth without bringing them into the boat. I have on occation had to cut the line with a fish too deaply hooked. All this is common practice with well informed anglers.

I don't know about a pike, but if it's a salmon I jump in and punch the fucker in the head until he gives me my lure back.

If it was a large pike it would give you back the lure but keep the arm and leg.

I swear a lot and then, when I tell the story about the one that got away, I double the size of the fish.

At the very least.

Did any of you ever watch Monarch of the Glen ... when one of the main characters, Hector MacDonald, left the series by blowing himself up while trying to dynamite a huge pike lurking in his Loch?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGYOsMnESGg