Lot's of interesting thoughts, ideas, and information on this thread. If there is one thing I don't like it's fish that has been in the freezer too long. So, I don't keep any more fish than we can eat or smoke, right away. My thought is, never keep a steelhead with an intact adipose, and only keep as many clipped ones as you can actually use. I don't see any harm at all in releasing hatchery stock, they can always make someone else's day when they get caught again. Keeping every hatchery fish, just because it is a hatchery fish, is kinda like the, gulp dare I say it, snaggers usually do it. I don't really care for the idea of "over consumption" being the rule of thumb
I like the hunt and the battle, a freezer full of "burnt" fish flesh is not for me, thanks.