Sure trouter, where did you see me trying to hog it all? All I'm saying is that
a lot more of our richer lakes should be managed for quality fishing, that's all.
I think(mostly from Canadian experiences and friends) though that there is
a powerbait and catch and kill mentality here where the majority of fishermen and
women NEVER progress away from bait to barbless single hook lures or flies like
you did.

This in my opinion has got to change and we're not really starting to change it yet.
Our buck buys less and less catchable fish each year and there are more and more
fishermen to share those. The practice of planting expensive triploids in powerbait lakes where
98% will never reach their potential is a waste of money and fuzzy thinking
caused by powerbaiters pressuring F&G for larger fish.

Flyfishing with C&R Conservation is the ONLY answer and that also means reduced limits or no limits. It has the huge benefit of being able to provide larger quality fish grown mainly by the lake itself.
Our fishing public needs to be told and cajoled that we cannot go on running most of our trout fishery as a welfare meat program.
Those who fish frequently for meat should share MORE of the available water with sportsmen on say
a 50-50% basis of available lakes and they also should see the handwriting on the wall and
start the process you describe of learning to flyfish and correctly handle and release trout.
This also is lower cost and lower maintenance for F&G and allows them to shift more money to
lake rehab, habitat restoration, enhancement and fertilization (yes that will come some day)
and enforcement which I think is too damn scant nowadays.