Salama I would agree hooking mortality is higher on cutthroat for some reason even with barbless flies.

Also i am not trying to pass my experience off as any kind of science just pointing out my observations as regards to steelhead. Also the only place i catch many wild steelhead is on the North Umpqua on flies.. This year other than the umpqua I caught three wild steelhead. all on flies.
I guess when i talk about WRS regs i automatically assume single barbless no bait as part of the package.