I haven't had much luck with the release sticks. Half the time the fish get wrapped up in the line. This makes the release dowel worthless. I find myself hanging over the side of the boat holding the line, trying to back the hook out with the pliers. This destroys the fly. If I have to choose the fish or the fly, I'll ruin the fly. The fish lose a lot of scales during the time at the side of the boat. Maybe the soft, knotless net, left in the water is the way to go, but it wont make unwrapping them any easier. I was thinking of using a tailer just to stop the thrashing while keeping the fish in the water so I can untangle them and slide the hook out.