NY will never close the tribs. They used to manage this fishery as a put and take fishery. They are slowly getting away from that. The fishery is a huge money maker for the state.
As for the guys that think a "few" are abusing it, spend some time during the brown runs in the fall at Burt, Oak Orchard, Sandy, ect and you will see a lot more than a "few" snaggers. in my very limited time I spend on the tribs I see way too much of it happening. When bubba from the back woods comes stolling down the middle of the creek with a snagging rod with 10z of weight, you know what he is up to. The salmon season brings the worst out in the tribs and the illegal clowns kill a lot of early run steelhead and browns during their visit illegally. The solution to the issue needs to be address by the DEC before they manage the steelhead fishery for the tribs only. If they did more about the issue I would have no problem with the changes. Unfortunately for us fishermen, deer hunting takes a front seat once the season opens.