How hard do you think a good catch and release net is on the fish.

Say you have to net the fish in order to get the hook out but you do not take the fish out of the water. You leave him in the water and in the net in order to do so. Do you think this removes much of their protective slime?

If the net is non-absorbant and knotless, I think it's better than playing the fish for a long period of time

They act like more of a "trap" than a net!

They make nets now that act more as a cradle than a bag. They are open ended and shallow, and come in several different sizes. The guides in AK on the Naknek who fish in the C&R rainbow fishery have been using them for quite a few years. I've seen them locally for several years now also.
It makes sense, putting a fish in a hard nylon knotted bag in an unaturally balled up position can't be good for it. With a cradle the fish is slid in on its belly on smooth fabric. The fish is in a more natural, less stressfull position and the fisherman doesn't have to fight all the extra fabric and depth of the net to work on it.

Bob

You said, "I think it's better than playing the fish for a long period of time"

I had not even thought of that, good point.