This is an interesting thread. Lots of great memories and stories but almost all are tied to steelhead. When I moved up here for grad school (UW CoF) in '72 steelhead were some sort of mystical fish that took a gazillion hours of staying in a cold river in the rain to catch one. Jokes aside, steelies were about more than just the catching and eating; there was a connection beyond that. Salmon were food. You went salmon fishing to catch dinner. You went steelhead fishing for other purposes.

Perhaps that "other purpose" has been lost not only in we anglers but in the managers an beyond. A fish, any fish, is simply for catching. How can regain that view, or do we want to?