MEMBERS of the Warwick Fish Stocking group have welcomed funding to help stock Leslie Dam and Connolly Dam.

Since 1985, the dams have received funding as part of annual stock impoundment permit schemes.

Leslie Dam this year received $17,981 while Connolly Dam received $2237.

Warwick Fish Stocking group secretary treasurer Eddie Kemp said restocking is necessary in the dams where native fish species won't breed.

"Whenever you're getting money every year, you've got to be happy," said Mr Kemp.

"The scheme started with a big push from the early members of the WFS group who asked the government to start a scheme whereby anglers could go and fish in impoundments where the fish are stocked," he said.

WFS group stocked a record 32, 987 Murray Cod this past stocking season in Leslie Dam.

A total of 295, 257 fingerlings were stocked in both dams and the Condamine River this past stocking season making it one of the best the club has had.

"Overseas where they've had a pay to go fishing rule for years, in particular England, it's been very successful there, and here there are fish caught through the year and a guaranteed amount of funding coming in."

Last year, fresh water fishing permits in Queensland earned more than $1 million.

Mr Kemp said the government takes 18 per cent of this money - down from 25 per cent a few years ago - and the rest is distributed to fishing groups, making for a very efficient system.

"It's one of the greatest things for fresh water fishing in Australia," he said."

"People have to put them in, grow them up to legal size and take them out - it's like a revolving door system.

"Every year, the anglers who want fish in the dams have to buy their permit."

New changes to fishing rules, presented by Queensland boating and fisheries officer, Paul Kuhn at the WFS group general meeting, were hoped to preserve other species while prolonging the sport.

Fishers are now banned from using set lines and can only keep a certain number of golden and silver perch of a particular size, while bait traps can have on opening no larger than five centimetres.

"It's to preserve the smaller species of fish that get caught in these traps," Mr Kemp said.

Mr Kemp said anglers will be unable to catch Murray cod through the spring breeding season.

President Roger Martin was also awarded for his long service to the club over several years, making him the ninth member to be awarded life membership.

The club also thanked the Southern Downs Regional Council for their grant of $4755 under the Community Assistance Program to buy fingerlings for the Condamine River.

Keen anglers in the Rose City can buy permits at Warwick Outdoor Sports and Warwick Tackle and Tusk at Westside.

The stores also sell memberships to WFS group to fish from electric motor boats in the council-owned Connolly Dam.

"The people who sell them don't get commission - they do it for the good of the business and the tourist value of the permits," Mr Kemp said.