Don't know the erie tribs at all, but the tailwater fishery the salmon river hosts has much to do with its success. Any of the natural flowing tribs that surround it lock up with ice as winter approaches and leaves the majority of all other tribs unfishabke. In 24 years I've yet to see ice on the river above 2a for the most part. The day Altmar freezes over while that dam is still there is day we'll probably never see

Dime,Penna. stocks one million Steelhead smolts a year and that's why it "used" to be Steelhead Fanatsy land for me several years ago.30 fish a day was normal and I had a few that were 50+,that's not happening lately.From what I understand the Walleye had a couple very good spawning years as of late and they are very abundant in Erie.All those Walleye are feasting on the smolts that head for the lake in the spring thereby reducing the return of adult fish a couple years later.But there are still a lot of fish in the Erie tribs.

Understood jack, I was more so referring to the fishing "pressure" though... the tailwater release that the salmon river and oswego river have hosts a good amount of fishable water through the winter...

On a side note though, a " lurking" friend of mine here just informed me of waiting for ice to break in the trestle. That's a sight I've never seen as it was well before my time. I imagine it won't happen again as water control is pretty well scaped these days.

I've busted out through maybe 15-20 feet of shelf ice in Pineville and Schoolhouse, but it wasn't bad, though hard going.   I caught some dark cookie cutters - but they still outfought anything else that's available to me in the winter- I loved it.   Can't imagine anchor ice and the river froze all the way across. Considering the low temps, it's pretty amazing there's a winter fishery.   Erie sounds like a great fishery , but very unpredictable and weather dependent. It's hard to get the motivation to drive that far without  some solid knowledge of fishable conditions, and yeah, some fish! Jack, you have a great excuse.  Hope they drop and you have some great days.

Dime,now I understand what you are saying but there's no ice locked streams now but the SR upper reaches is still packed with people and really not a great "experience" for me when it's that crowded.
Of course it seems that is what's happening on all the tribs the last 5-10 years,it's become too popular! 

many years ago, well pre 1990 I seen things get locked up pretty good up to above the sportsmans.... Really liked fishing the Pmill up back then as the good ole' Sportsman's Lodge was right down the rd.. ... Solid Ice and wait until they would flush the water (about 9-11)  watch out for ice flows..  But that was back in the Ranger rubber wader , tape on reel days.. Heck I 'm pretty sure by 1990 I was wearing neos and flinging a noodle rod..lol.
No worries today as global warming has even the deer lying in the November sunshine.. TOO **** HOT OUT !!!  I should be fishin'....
 

Too popular is a great explanation for it. Fichy, probably just skim coat at most I'd imagine???

Always love hitting the joss hole after an early February thaw during typical winters... fished there once off of a five foot shelf of ice pack. The river disappeared 100 yards downstream under huge crumbles of a high ice formed wall...breath taking

HT- If the forecast holds true you'll be singing a different tune come tomorrow.  The cold snap should have the deer up and moving.

Now a true high jack from me. Been sitting around camp just killing blues. Hope tomorrows weather brings meat as this may be a true adventure.
Ps:
After walking 20 + miles stealth up and down ridges my big toe hurts like hell !!!! Sucks to be outta shape ;( The only comfort is not seeing another human and only squirrels get me mad.

Have at them fish fellas, got meat to harvest here..

Dime,  yeah just a 1/2 -3/4 inch. I have jumped in off the thick shelves on the side,  of some runs, though.  One fellow that I met from NC friended me on Facebook. I guess if I go down to the Outer Banks, I'll get a leg up on things. He told me where to fly fish from shore and where to tent camp- 2 things I couldn't easily  find there .They were some good ol' boys, I should tell them to stop in here, at least in season.  Good luck RJ, if you get sick of looking at trees and chattering squirrels and want to  splash  some water, let me know. End of the week I may go again.