The Kasilof is one of those streams that we can't take the fish out of the water ... I have mixed feelings on the rule ... nice to have the yeah-hoo's have something to keep them taking care of the fish, but it doesn't do much to encourage others to take a pic and let the fish go ... I feel freshwater king survival is pretty good (UW did a number of studies up here years ago on the Kenai and found excellent survival) if handled properly ... I wish we had a middle ground.

Personally, I 'd rather not leave a hook in a fish if possible, but there are times that I do for one reason or another and that would be an option ... but I agree with the yanking part ... quick jerks on a short reign (no stretch on a short leash) could do some damage ... so be careful with that one.

Boga grips in my opinion are not an option ... steelhead and salmon body weights are too great to support hanging by the mouth (stretching spinal area) and then release ... this is a really big pet peeve of mine ... a will go unnamed Hoquim-area guide come up to the upper Hoh (C&R water) a few years ago and was weighing fish with a scale by the gill plate and then putting the fish back in the river ... needless, to say, I had a little chat with him (it turned out to be not-so-friendly, he thought the practice was a-okay) ... another reason I'm a 'radical, mean guide' ... looking out for the welfare of the fish!