The ability of "bleeders" to survive is partially depend on how the fish is handled. As with all catch and release fisheries the first step is how the fish is played; with bleeders playing the fish to exhaustion (turning on its side) greatly reduces its ability to survival.

"Rules to increase survival chances":
1) Land the fish quickly.
2) Leave the hook inplace, trying to remove the hook often causes additional tissue damage.
3) Release the fish immediatley without removing it from the water. If possible do so in quiet water. Under no circumstances try to revive the fish. Its survival (clotting of the bleedig) is dependent on slowing its heart rate down. Your continual handling of the fish keeps its heart pumping full bore.

Over the years I have see a number of salmonids that have survived a completely torn gill arch (piece of gill poking out from the gill plate) to fight another day. Various species handle this abuse better than others. Steelhead (rainbow trout) are not particularly tough fish and the mortality rate of heavy bleeders is high; though some will survival if handled properly. By far Dollies are the "toughest" of the salmonids; I personally seen 17 that have survived a completely torn gill arch.

Tight lines
Smalma