bduc,

Sorry, but that's a load of crap. Standing around with a fish in your hands while your buddy digs for the camera, adjusts the focus and light meter, has you change poses, etc. is bad for a fish. Leaving the fish in the water while the camera is being readied, and then a quick lift and snap a couple frames is not a big deal. The photo lasts a lifetime, and the fish suffers no harm if you do it right. This whole idea that any handling of a fish will lead to its death sounds like some PETA bull$hit line to me. That doesn't mean you should drag a fish you intend to release into the sand, across the rocks, drop it in the boat and let it flail around, or play it until it bellies up. But making it sound like if you take a photo of a fish you release is sentencing them to death is a little flaky if you ask me.

Just out of curiosity, what do you think of statewide mandatory release of wild steelhead?