It is always interesting how steelhead fishing captivated anglers. An old fella who mentored me when I started fishing had caught thousands of salmon (saltwater) and steelhead in his lifetime. He always told me that he would rather catch one steelhead than twenty salmon. I think it is the challenge and effort of trying to catch one and the weather conditions (winter) an angler must combat.

Like Tug said, as long as there is a net fishery (and habitat degradation etc.) for steelhead there is no chance for recovery of the wild fish. Simple fact.