JacobF,
I appreciate that you took the other side for the sake of arguement. Here is my logic:
-wild steelhead catch and kill is only justifyable in rivers with healthy runs
-a run is only healthy if the runs are at, or nearly at, maximal returns
-no Washington river is at, or nearly at, maximal returns (you can argue this point but just go ask an oldtimer about how things used to be)
-thus, catch and kill is not justified