FYI, Alaska beat Washington to the punch on this one by several years, Sparkey. Although it is not a statewide regulation, the law prohibiting the removal of fish from the water applies to steelhead and king salmon that will be released. This rule has been instituted basically anywhere "the masses" fish.

While I don't think it hurts to pull a fish out of the water for a few seconds (notice the water is still dripping from the fish in the first pic) for a photo, it's pretty tough to regulate "best handling practices" beyond what can be practically enforced. There are just too many variations of what some guys think a fish can withstand.

"No fish out of water" is the most enforceable rule to get around all the potential abuses... basically the least common denominator of the various methods. Will there still be abuses? You betcha! Like the disgusting t.i.c. photo posted last month showing the vertically hanging gill-grab with just the tip of the tail touching the water. I suppose some guys will actually emulate that "release method" out of spite, declaring it to be completely legal.

In Alaska, I believe the wording in the regs goes something like "may not be removed from the water and must be released unharmed.

Everyone of you knows what the intent of "Sparkey's Law" was meant to be in spirit. He put the best interests of the fish before hyperinflated egoes. I commend him for pushing it through. Now it's up to each of us to put it into practice the best that we can.