CF, I didn't mean to imply that we haven't lost *any* native steelhead stocks, because there seems to be plenty of evidence that some are gone. What I have a hard time believing is the notion that we have lost *all* native steelhead in Washington state.

Seems pretty clear that the early native winter-runs on most Washington streams have taken a beating. It shouldn't be that surprising given the exceptionally high harvest rates for November-February that are typical on Washington streams. Those harvest rates are thought to be appropriate for hatchery fish, but are way too high for a naturally spawning population. Perhaps inbreeding between hatchery and wild fish has also contributed to the declines of the early returning fish, but overfishing has surely been a big factor.

I hope Salmo chimes in on this too...