Even with Steelhead landed with light line to a point of very tired I do not see any loss of life. Such as summer fish in clear water that I have released on many occasions I have had the opportunity to watch them through a full recovery. It may take fifteen to thirty minutes before they have reached full awareness but I have not seen any loss as long as their gills were not damaged from the process. However with the same consideration to the fish I do not find it necessary to pick the fish out of the water for more than a few seconds. When I see fish out of the water for minutes then released is probably another story. There is no excuse for that kind of lack of consideration.