Excellent post Bill!! As far as equipment for proper release goes, I would say it really comes down to:
* Frabill Power Catch Big Game or Big Kahuna. The Big Game is more than big enough (the Big Kahuna is bigger yet), and is better for little guys like me and Herbie so we can actually reach in the net with our little arms to get the fish out. Obviously, any other net from another manufacturer of similar size is suitable.

*Hook Cutters. Hands down the best is the Knipex. They can cut hooks like a warm knife through butter. My buddy and I always have two in the boat (we each own one). I also, for the big trolling lures, have this monster two hand high leverage bolt cutter (you could probably cut a 1/4" thick screw with it). You cannot fish at night on Eagle, but at other lakes in the dark (even with a headlight) it allows you to cut through the entire shaft of the hook easily. That way, you can "free" the fish quickly in the net & clear the lure and the other hooks. Then you take the knipex out, and get the rest of the hook. You can never have enough hook cutters. Horror story. Back in my LOTW days in the late 90s (before I found Eagle and AML ), the guide got hooked in the hand really bad (and was attached to a very angry 40"er). The guides hook cutters were dropped in the lake in the scramble when the fish thrashed. My Dad and I pulled out our old hook cutters from our Wisconsin days (they were roughly 10+ years old from when we had our cottage up there in the 80's). The cutters were rusted out, and literally shattered when we tried to cut the hook. We had to pull the whole fish and net into the bottom of the boat to free the fish from the guide. Then motored over to another musky boat to free the lure from the guides hand. 2-3 hook cutters in the boat at a minimum!!

*11"+ Pliers. Much better for taking hooks out.

*XL Baker mouth spreaders

My biggest "worry" is not necessarily the hooks in the fish's mouth getting into me. Rather, sometimes the lure comes off/out in the net, but the lure is all rolled up and tangled in the netting. Don't grab the lure with your hand!!! When the fish in the water in the bottom of the net thrashes and swings the net... the hooks in the lure in your hand WILL go into your hands!!! So be careful!!

Good luck everyone, and be safe.

-Dan