F5A,

I fish good lies that have poor or impossible options for landing fish whenever I can. I'd rather hook a steelhead with no chance whatever of landing it than not hooking it at all. I usually use barbless hooks, and my policy is usually to pull hard, the rest is easy. Either the hook pulls free, straightens, or the leader breaks. And sometimes it goes better than I thought. Standing almost chest deep with no bank nearby, I've managed to bring a steelhead to hand and get my hand on the fly and remove it without actually handling the steelhead. I don't count on that happening however.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.