I thought this until I smoked a brightish Chum next to a small King. The King tasted great, the Chum tasted like smoked protein with no flavor.Put them in the smoker.
I've shared smoked humpy with friends and they couldn't tell it was humpy. Although it might not matter because anything smoked tastes good though.
I'm guessing Pinks meat quality evaporates as soon as they hit the freshwater? I took two dime brights last year, the hen was white meat while the male tasted identical despite being colored up