Funding from Victorian recreational fishing licence fees has also increased fish levels, which are at more than 70 per cent above normal.

Fisheries Victoria officers released 60,000 golden perch fingerlings in the Wimmera River last week, in an area stretching from Jeparit to Glenorchy.

Officer Murray Burns said the tiny fish, which weighed an average of one gram each, should be at a catchable size in three to four years.

He said the river normally received about 35,000 golden perch each year but with extra environmental flows, the river health had improved, allowing for greater numbers.

‘‘The river is looking the best it has for about 15 years thanks to extra flows as a result of the Wimmera-Mallee Pipeline development allowing for more environmental water,’’ he said.

Golden perch river stockings were 5000 at Jeparit, Antwerp, Polkemmet, Quantong and Glenorchy, 15,000 at Dimboola, and 20,000 at Horsham.

‘‘The normal annual stocking for the Wimmera River is 35,000 golden perch so the extra 25,000 fingerlings is a considerable boost,’’ Mr Burns said.

‘‘Anglers will also be happy to hear that another 30,000 golden perch will be swimming their way into Taylors Lake at Horsham.

"Every year the fees anglers pay for recreational fishing licences are allocated to projects that directly improve recreational fishing such as fish stocking, extra enforcement and research.’’