I am a guide here in AK, I was fishing clients for silvers when we hooked a King, trying to release the king as gently as possible I attempted to remove the quikfish with my needle nose plyers and no net. The fish was hooked on the back treble of the lure while my index finger got hooked on the front hook. There I was attached to a 40+ kenai king over the side of my boat no net or anything. I had a client attempt to rip the hook out which failed. On the third attempt he was able to rip the hook from my finger.
Believe me, it is not a fun experience to be hooked to a king in flowing water and no net around the fish to calm it and contain it! Needless to say it could have been much worse but the King and I survived!