Scotty and Riverroper,

The data I have read says the following regarding wild winter steelhead:

"Data from BC indicate that wild steelhead release fisheries on winter steelhead stocks exert a minimal influence on the ability of the fish to spawn and refute claims that caught and released steelhead were effectively lost from the population. The following conclusions from the study were drawn:

Hooking mortality of steelhead ranged between 0 and 6 percent in 11 Canadian river basins over a 7 year period with a Province-wide average of 3.6 percent.

Hooking mortality of winter-run steelhead averages between 2 and 3 percent using barbless hooks, regardless of whether bait is used.

Barbed hooks appear to be the largest contributor to hooking mortality.

The great majority of released fish make it to spawning grounds and spawn.

Use of resident salmonid hooking mortality data is not applicable to steelhead in freshwater."

OK, using the above upper average of a 3% hooking mortality I would have to catch and release 100 wild steelhead in a season to kill 3. Honestly, how many wild steelhead will you C&R in a season without BS. I consider myself a skilled and experienced steelheader, but between work and family I'll be lucky to see a fraction of that 100, and the friends I fish with know I fish at every chance I get. Even 20 steelhead C&R'd in a season equals a mortality of 1/2 fish compared to killing 10 in a season it's appearent which ideal has the greater impact on the resource.

If anglers take responsibily and really learn proper C&R techniques that percentage might even be reduced further.

Riverroper there's no justification for killing a 25lb steelhead to get a mount, take a pic and get a reproduction!

I believe that C&R provides the finest return of opportunity and conservation.