My pike gear is a bit unconventional ( read that to mean light) but I use a 5.5 foot ultralight rod and a Shimano 750 spin reel loaded with #10 fire line.
I don't remember any sized pike ever breaking off, though Ive had oodles of them gulp everything up and over the leader and as soon as their teeth hit the line its Adios!
I find I catch as many, as quickly on the ultralight as I did the heavy tackle, and my arms and hands aren't worn out flinging a 7 foot rod all day. YMMV
Lining my tackle out for our annual trip to Alberta for pike( we don't leave till August...)
Good luck up there! Ive had a ball fishing in Sask.
I would recommend single barbless hooks on everything though...it makes unhooking so much easier and if you are catching volume, that's a big consideration....as is fishing a 3/0 hook out of your own hide in the case of an accident, which seems to happen in a pike boat.
I would listen to ky221 recommendation on casting tackle...I know nothing about it and he works his butt off for his muskies.
Here is a #18 from Sask. back in the day before miracle line...I got him on a 4.5 ft. spin rod with #6 mono.......it took awhile