So micropterus101, a steelhead is a steelhead is a steelhead? I think you need biology 101. Any native species has a genetic diversity that is not matched by assembly line breeding, be it fish or fruit.

Duroboat15, your question is actually very complex. You could also ask if the DNA is different between the different races of humans, or for that matter between northern European and southern European. Obviously there is a difference, but it is with specific genes, just as there are specific gene differences between Bill Walton and Bill Gates. The mapping of the human geome was just completed, but that does not mean that the scientists knows the function of each gene.

The difference between hatchery steelhead and natives depends on the genetic source and how genetically pure they keep the hatchery fish. Silver Hilton brings up the good point of the native fish being "contaminated" with hatchery DNA. I don't know about steelhead, but most stocker rainbow trout are bred for how well they do in the hatchery and how fast they grow to 12 inches. Having these K-Mart special trout bred with natives would be a crime.

I don't trust that hatcheries will do the right thing to protect native fish or even provide quality fish. Just look what they did with whirling disease: a number of hatcheries knew they were contaminated and yet continued to stock the fish. Some of those clowns should have gone to jail for that one.