PITTSBURGH - To Al Chislo, fishing regulated is fishing denied.

Chislo's group, Traditional Anglers of Pennsylvania, wants the state Fish and Boat Commission to allow bait fishing on trout streams that currently allow only artificial lures, such as spinners and flies.

"Bait fishermen are denied rights to harvest the fish, even though they help pay for them" through license sales, said Chislo, 74, who fishes at least once a week.

About 92 miles on 55 streams are managed under the "delayed harvest, artificial lures only" program, meaning anglers can keep three legal-sized trout between June 15 and Labor Day. Since anglers are allowed to kill the fish during that time, Chislo said it shouldn't matter how they're caught.

"They're going to die. Why can't we harvest them like anybody else? It's sheer stupidity," he said.

So far, the group's efforts are running into significant opposition, with the commission tallying 890 votes against the proposal and 25 in favor, according to commission spokesman Dan Tredinnick. Public comment is being solicited until June 13 and the commission will likely consider the idea in July.

The proposal has generated more comment than any other idea, he said. The commission hasn't taken a position on the proposal. Besides accepting written comment, public meetings on the proposal are slated for May 12 in Monroeville and May 13 in Leesport.

"Let's face it, 90 percent of our regulations have no comment," Tredinnick said. "We've got a pretty clear picture that people like the delayed harvest program and like it the way it is."

But, he said, "This isn't just a numbers exercise ... The commissioners are more interested in some of the thought processes behind the comments than simply, 'I'm opposed to the change.'"

Traditional Anglers of Pennsylvania ultimately wants all special regulations done away with. Other angling restrictions include fly fishing only and no-kill areas. The state stocks trout on about 4,700 miles of streams.

"These regulated areas are nothing but a country club atmosphere," Chislo said.

A strong opponent is Trout Unlimited, according to Tredinnick.

In a letter to the commission opposing the idea, George Mellinger, president of the Pennsylvania chapter of Trout Unlimited, said some sportsman's groups and tackle businesses add to the commission's stockings "to build a better trout fishery with more public interest and economic draw." Mellinger didn't return a phone message seeking comment Friday.

"Introduction of bait fishing in these areas will undoubtedly lead to conflict between angler groups, landowners, and the people who raised, stocked, and cared for these valuable trout," Mellinger wrote.

Chislo said he had initially thought comment would run about 50-50.

"These people are well organized," he said. "We are not. We just started on this. Eventually, we will be well organized."

"If we don't get it, we'll go to where we have to go to get it done," he said. The group has an attorney would go to court as a last resort, he said.

The Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs also opposes changing to the delayed harvest program.

"We figure that it's not too much to ask that there are a few areas like this that are set aside," said Melody Zullinger, executive director.