Spoonman, I think it was a fluke that you deep-hooked that fish on a spoon. Fact is, you can deep hook fish w/o bait but it is more the exception than the rule. I understand that you probably practice C&R on nates religiously and everybody has a story or two of how they deep-hooked a nate and had to bonk it because it was dead when they put it back in the water. [Bleeeeep!] happens, and as long as you practice C&R 99.9% of the time on nates, then I don't see it as being the end of the world if you bonk .01% of your catch because it is fatally hooked or believed to be fatally hooked. Using that as an excuse is ridiculous, using that theory when you really do deep-hook one is common place and it's a judgement call. There are too many idiots out there, that bonk 'em all, no matter what, so yes, your fish may survive but as long as you follow a "no INTENTIONAL kill" rule on wild steelhead, then your're doing as well or better than most folks. Out of the shieetloads of steelies I've hooked and my friends have hooked, there has only been a hanfull, if that, that have been hooked that deep. Mostly summyruns that wolfed down the bait and one dumbass hatchery buck that completely inhaled a spinner, I mean all the way into it's throat....like I said, [Bleeeeep!] happens. Cut the line and hope for the best, release nates for a clearer conscious and good Karma. Peace - Justin