CowlitzFisherman,

Undoubtedly, the things you mention are more detrimental to wild steelhead than barbed hooks. However, since we can't just go out and breach all of the dams, stop logging, and take away the tribes right to net the rivers to death, why not start with something WE CAN DO

Mandatory barbless hook regulations are a good idea. If it were possible to effectively ENFORCE the regulation, it would be a great idea.

As pointed out above, fishing barbless hooks does not significantly reduce the number of fish landed. IMHO it adds a little more challenge to the sport, and reduces, even if just a little bit, the chance of a released fish not surviving.