If the fish runs upstream don't chase it past the boundry or it's ticket time, I've seen many tickets given at the Barrier Dam. Another way to look at would be like keeping a short fish that swallowed the hook deep and was bleeding bad you know it will die, but if you keep it's ticket time. I would try to fish far enough below the boundry or use a heavy drag to stop the fish if the fish is heading for ticket water. Game wardens don't seem to reason to well with excuses, they have heard them all.
Good Luck Fishing.