Wa fisher, you are completely right. One fish does not make a run, but the problem is how many people out there are thinking the same thing as you? It's just one fish, how much damage can I do? Over a season it really does add for the big picture. These so called "trophy" fish are the genetic cream of the crop for our steelhead rivers, and they really should not be harvested for any reason.
I spend at least 10 days each June Atlantic Salmon fishing in Quebec for the large (sorry guys its flyfishing only by law)salmon that average about 20#'s. I have caught a hell of a lot of grief from the local guides over my c&r stance on these fish. It perfectly legal to keep them, but I choose to release. Snooping through the kill logs from the past 20 or so years there is an alarming trend: the average size of salmon has dropped by almost 5 pounds. The trophies are put on the wall, but again it is perfectly legal.
My point is that just because it is perfectly legal does not make it moral. Be conscience enough to carry a camera, take a handful of photos, and let the fish go. Take these photos and get a replica. That way the fish wins, and so do you.

[This message has been edited by inland (edited 03-01-2001).]