As much as I hate to agree with you...
I hate this rule as well. Many of the rivers that I fish have gone the same way. I fish for fun. I don't eat salmon or steelhead but like to keep a few prime ones every now and then to smoke for friends and family, I HATE having to keep some damn 6 pound hatchery brat when I now that I will eventually get into some nice 12-14+ pounders. On an 9-11 hour float, limiting out in the first couple of miles on brats can make for a wasted day and a lot of rowing. I don't need to take in the scenery, I've seen it hundreds of times.
