For pike I go with 100 lb Seguar Fluoro leader material, which is the heaviest Cabela's offer. It works well for me. Raf, I don't throw soft baits, so can't offer any input to your post. I mostly heave Suicks, 1 1/8 oz JSM w/an Uncle Josh's red striper strip, 5 1/4".
When fishing jigs with 15# pp (for walleyes) and no leader, I've been cut off by small pike, but don't recall ever being bit off by a big pike due to their big teeth that have wide gaps, for the line to fit, rather than being cut off. Just gotta be cool when bringing them in. Keep the line tight, don't horse and don't go too soft. Be in charge. Have an idea.
Don't underestimate the bite of big pike. Go heavy with your leader. Never wrong to go with wire. Maybe using fluoro is like owning a Harley. Kick rocks and say, "Yeah, I got me a Harley". Same with Fluoro? Status and testerone go hand in hand.
Back in 2005 season I had a pretty good fisherman put me onto using a large net/pen and not removing pike from the water during the release. Also put me onto fluorocarbon leaders. Might be why I continue to use them. That boy can fish and he can write.