Long time ago there was single panel comic called "Woody's World". Among other things, Woody fished steelhead. In one panel, he is standing in a river, in the rain. His wife asks "Steelhead. Is that in reference to the fish or the fisherman."

In my experience with steelhead it is not that they are really hard to catch; they are really hard to find and get the bait/lure to. You have to hunt them. Salmon are much more random. Once you find the steelie it is still necessary to present the offering. I also think that a fish in a stream is harder to land because of all the obstacles like rocks and logs. All in all, a much bigger challenge.

So, the experience of tough weather, tough fish to find, and tough fish to subdue add to the allure. I hope it never is completely lost.