Oncorhynchus mykiss came by its name ‘steelhead’ the hard way:

A primer by Bill McMillan.

“Most came to consider the name’s origin to be a description of the blue gun-metal-steel color along the steelhead’s top of head and back. But the real origin was more likely that of ill repute and considered almost a trash fish: less desirable than a chinook salmon, too bony to can well, flesh not as red, and a head so hard it was difficult to kill.”

Oncorhynchus mykiss came by its name ‘steelhead’ the hard way: the School of Hard Knocks

LINK (via: Steelheader's Journal)