Here's a couple of ideas for C and R cradles...I've been using them for trout fishing in Wa for several years. There are many guides in AK who are using them in the C and R sections of the Bristol Bay drainages for big rainbows. Heck, even the Canookies are ahead of us in this field as they have been using them for big Muskies for years.

http://www.fieldandstream.com/fieldstream/gear/finder/article/0,13440,195793,00.html

http://www.fishontario.com/articles/muskie-cradle/

Personally I don't buy into the "I can't release a fish over the side of the boat because its too rough". Bring the fish next to the boat, put it in the bag if you have to stabilize it and use your god given peepers to discern if that fish has an adipose. Instead of trying salvage your 5-cent hook, 50-cent slider rig, or dime corkie...cut the line. No need to bring it into the boat....if your life is in jeapordy just cut the line and be on your way. Just my rant.

agreed

Guys have been using the catch and release cradles on muskies for years in the Midwest. They do a nice job of supporting the fish in the water while you remove the hook. No reason whay they wouldn't work great for steelies over the side of a boat. Mesh is knotless just like a catch and release net.

I've C& R a few muskies and lots of big pike. I've never used a cradle for them, but could see how it would help. The thing with pike & muskies is that they have relatively narrow boney mouths and lots of spikey teeth. The last thing you want is for that fish to go bezerk and start flopping when you've got your had anywhere near its mouth. The cradle minimizes flopping and makes it easier to get leverage on the hook.

I don't know about cradles for steelhead or salmon, they have no significant teeth and much softer mouths. With a single barbless hook this should not really be necessary. If you aren't fishing single barbless, you shouldn't be releasing fish.

I think if you just feed the fish a bunch of slack and wait 30 seconds, they'll unhook themsleves with a single barbless about 25% of the time. Otherwise, it is rather straighforward to just back the hook out by hand or with a pair of pliers while the fish is still in the water.