I can't remember ever playing a fish for 30 minutes other than oversize sturgeon. If you have that much trouble with salmon or steelhead its time to gear up to something that can land these fish in a reasonable(short) period of time, especially when fishing c & r.

As far as keeping fish to eat, whats wrong with hatchery fish? There are plenty around and thats what they're here for. Down here in Oregon they instituted c & r on unmarked fish several years ago and the returns the past few years have been great. Try it and I think you'll like it.