Technically, that is illegal. As another member posted,
[Page 9 regs]
ALLOWABLE FISHING METHODS
angle … fish (with or
without a rod)
with
one fishing line to which only one hook,
one artificial lure OR one artificial fly is
attached
All other methods of taking fish are
illegal.The way I see it, angling "without" a rod is legal, but one must use "one fishing line" with either one hook, artificial lure, or fly to catch fish.
Although 1 hatchery markes steelhead is allowed for retention, legally, the individual would have had to get the dead fish to..."bite" and hook it in the mouth solely by hooking the fish in the mouth using a hook and line. Whether or not a rod was used he would still have to use a line with a hook on the end.
If he really wants to waste his quota on a fish he did not catch...hey go ahead! But to be technical, even though he marked it on his licence with integrity, he still did not catch it legally, and probably was unaware of this.
Maybe he just wanted something to weigh in at fred's for the derby
another reason why derbies are bad - they encourage people to remove nutrients from the river! lol