Jounama Pondage, New South Wales: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Set in Snowy Valleys, New South Wales, this is Jounama Pondage. Elevation runs to 382 metres. Surface area runs to roughly 2.78 sq km, so plan for one area rather than the whole. At about 16 km of edge, most people work one arm at a time. It is a small entry by Snowy Valleys standards. The closest town, Batlow, is 15 km distant. Canberra sits 82 km out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Jounama Pondage

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Nearby survey and observation records mention perch and two-spined blackfish. Presence in the area does not guarantee a fish in this exact water on the day. At Jounama Pondage the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 6°C to 20°C. Summer heat is the limit here, not winter cold. The shoulder seasons either side of summer are the ones to aim for. Summer, December to February, brings heat, so fish early and late. Jounama Pondage runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Parking sits 650 m out, which makes for a walk with tackle. Somewhere to sit and eat is 400 m out. Public toilets are recorded roughly 740 m off. For the perch, a small jig tipped with worm, dropped along the edges, is hard to beat. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Failing this one, try Blowering Reservoir, 11 km away. Check the position on Jounama Pondage before loading the car.