Big lures will catch both large and small pike, of that there is no doubt. It's also not in doubt that most waters will contain more smaller pike than large ones. Which is why choosing the right water is vital if you hope to contact the bigger specimens.
Having said all that, I do passionately believe that the larger lures over time, will prove to be more effective. OK, so what do we classify as large. Speaking personally, I regard any lure between ''8 to 10 inches'' as''large'' but, that may be as a direct result of experiments carried out over the years by myself and friends, before arriving at that optimum figure.
The next step was to determine at those sizes what was the minimum number of hooks needed, and where to place them. Bearing in mind that I have made most of my own lures for over 30 years.
The result of all this is that for many years now I have never felt the need to employ more than two trebles, even on my largest lures of 10 inches. One at the midway point, and one at the tail, in the appropiate size for the lure of course.
That's my two pennorth, for what it's worth.