I have never caught a steelie close to 25, but I have nailed a 40LB King in my fav. river last summer. That was probably the best fight for any river caught fish in my life. Caught on a shrimp tail and corkie banging the bottom on light gear.... what a blast. (8'6" rod with 12#test)

I have never had a steelhead run out 150 yards of line like he was going to sprint all the way back to the Pacific Ocean on me. The fish last summer did just that...what a rush! Another 10#'s on that fish and I dont know if I would have landed it.

If you couldn't tell already, I voted for the king.