steelheader69,
read page 13 of the 2000/2001 sportfishing rules: SNAGGING-ATTEMPTING TO TAKE FISH WITH A HOOK AND LINE IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE FISH DOES NOT VOLUNTARILY TAKE THE HOOK(S) IN ITS MOUTH. bluntly put, if the fish is not hooked in the mouth it is not a legal hookup. where in the rules does it say anywhere above the gill plate is a legal hookup? in oregon maybe but not in washington. of course the rules do say if the fish is hooked in the eye, gill, or tongue it should be kept if legal to do so. how many fish(while fishing legaly) have you hooked in the eye, gill, or tongue? i personally have never hooked a salmon or steelhead in the eye or gill but have hooked a few(less than 6) in the tongue. could this be due to the fact that generally these fish hit and turn back downstream and thus get hooked in the crook of the jaw or the lip? this is not a personal attack by any means. just stating what the book says and speaking of my experiences.