GF: Sadly I see no evidence of any Vancouver Island wild steelhead recovery. Perhaps you are thinking of salmon? The entire East side of Vancouver Island has been a steelhead disaster fro about five years, and now the West side seems to be going down too. My favorite river, the Gold tanked this year. Snorkel surveys that used to count more than 1,000 fish counted less that 40. Truth is I don't think anyone knows fore sure why, but they have almost zero in-river netting of steelhead.

I do NOT think C&R is the only answer, or even the best answer. But I do think a dead steelhead will never spawn.