I've often wondered about that prevalent 'tude also. I think it comes from the likelyhood that more people like eating fresh salmon than fresh steelhead. I do; for both taste and richness, and better BBQ qualities because the flesh doesn't dry out as easily. I also think it's from the consensus opinion that wild salmon runs are more healthy than wild steelhead runs. This is true in many areas, but not the case in some areas. If a wild chinook or coho run is not healthy enough to sustain a harvest fishery they should also be released from barbless hooks - as I strongly support for wild steelhead. My $0.02 worth.

RT