FLO1919,
We succesfully released quite a few very large Steelhead a week ago Friday by unhooking them off the back of the boat. NO net, no handleling and nothing under the gill plates PLEASE. They will quite often turn on there side as they recover from the battle but give them a couple minutes and they will swim away. If not then it's time for a swing back through with the net and one for the box. As the surface water warms the survial rate will unfortunately decrease. Unfortunatley, not much you can do. No net and no handleing is best.
Very good question by the way.
Glen