TOPIC:

As the season progresses more and more of us will be releasing lake trout and as the surface warms and the fish are caught at increasing depths releasing an LT is much much harder on the trout.  A trout released into water warmer than 50 degrees has a more than fifty percent mortality. In the 70s, it's much, much worse. 

There is one good way to release and that's to use a "descending device."  the easiest and best is the Seaqualizer "boca grip style" available at Bass Pro and Cabelas as well as elsewhere.  I have one and it's terrific. I use it on a downrigger to pull the fish  back into the depths. There are other kinds, cheaper, probable not so easy to use.  

Descending devises are now required for bottom fishing in salt water.  

The least you can do if you want to release a trout is to burp it.  Unhook it as quickly as possible, roll it over on its back and gently squeeze and massage it's belly. Hopefully, you'll hear the air in its swim bladder "burp" out of the fish.  This is a poor option, but much better than just tossing the fish overboard to float away.  Sure, some of the fish's slime will be removed. Sure you might be bruising a vital organ inside the fish, but a bruise is better than dead. 

It's almost impossible to keep from catching a trout - I've caught them on dodger/flies on planer boards.  I know some people hate them because they compete with the salmon in the lake.  Don't take it out on the trout. Your beef is not with the individual fish, it's with the regulators who are directing the management goals and stocking efforts.