the truly sad thing about this isn't that a guy killed a fish of a lifetime. but the fact that so many people out there still see it as ok to do it.

I have never knowingly killed a native steelhead and I never will no matter what size the fish is. I wonder if everyone that is flameing this guy can honestly say that ? I took a guided trip a few years ago on a river in Oregon that allows harvest of native fish and the guide was shocked that I wouldn't kill a small 12 pound nate . I know for a fact this guide would have ZERO problem killing the biggest of nates. And when no one is looking can you look yourself's in the face and say a world record fish is going back???? I would bet most ( of course not all ) of the guys out there on the river .and even on here and other boards who like to jump on a band wagon and give there often under educated 2 cents. can't look in the glare of a 30 pound chromer nate and let it go knowing it is perfectly legal to kill it...

this is a world record fish that is out of the gene pool it's to late for that fish but what about tomorows 30 lb fish can we educate enough guys to get the next one back in the gene pool ? Our time would be better spent trying to find out how we can educate other guys on the river's that allow native harvest to let there's go instead of bickering about this dead fish.

Maybe a T-shirt program like the no snagging ones here in Oregon??