Bob -
You are right of course, the 36 in minimum is limited to SE - though as I recall the SE region has over 300 steelhead streams (though most are small).

I believe in South Central one is allowed to kill up 2 steelhead a year - I would not be surprised that there are exceptions.

My real point is that much of the discussion I have seen regarding the "bonking" of wild steelhead seemed to indicate that only Washingotn allows the "bonking" of wild fish while the reality is that Alaska, British Columbia and Oregon all allow the taking of wild fish.

That doesn't make it more justifiable here in Washington just corrects a common mis-conception.

The later part of your post seemed to indicate that you were comfortable with some kill when steelhead were in high abundance as some of the Alaska streams. Is there is some magic population level (over X number of fish) or some portion of carrying capacity. This seems to be a new position for you or did I mis-understand where you were coming from?

Tight lines
Smalma