My memory fogs on this but I think when recycling has been tried (and monitored) that it really doesn't put fish in the catch. They sometimes beat the truck back to the hatchery or they go to other streams.

Essentially, when a steelhead moves to the hatchery trap site it is to spawn. Time for sex and other activities get second or third place. If trucked downstream they don't suddenly lose the urge so they either hurry home or find a new one.

A summer fish, trapped in May and not spawning till the next March vcan be put back out and it will find a place to over summer so it might be catchable.

Recycling sounds like a no-brainer but if the fish don't get caught they cause more problems as Doc alluded to.

There have been programs to put these fish into non-anadromous lakes. Even as kelts. Post-spawn they should get back to eating again.