Fishing Jounama Pondage
General fishing in Jounama Pondage is highly active from spring through to autumn as cold snowmelt currents sustain a productive trout habitat. Anglers should be prepared for rapid water level fluctuations due to daily hydro-electric power generation cycles. The system holds highly active populations of rainbow trout and brown trout that feed on an abundant insect supply.
Land-based anglers can find excellent access along the shores and gravel flats of the Jounama Creek campground margins. Casting lightweight inline spinners or drifting natural nymphs through the flowing current is highly successful. Wading with sturdy boots is recommended to safely navigate the slippery granite rocks and swift currents.
Offshore and boat fishing is popular for small vessels, kayaks, and canoes navigating the weed margins and deep channels. Boaters can use the Jounama Pondage Launching Point to explore the sheltered creek arms and deep-water drop-offs. Drifting silently while casting lightweight soft plastics or presenting live mudeyes under bubble floats is highly successful.
Top 10 Species
Landbased
- Jounama Pondage Wall margins: Wading anglers can fish the deep rocky shorelines adjacent to the main regulating wall. Casting long distances with heavy metal spoons or Tassie Devils is highly effective during spring. Wading with caution is advised as the concrete rock edges can be slippery and steep.
- Talbingo Road rest area banks: These easily accessible banks offer flat ground pockets for shore-based bait and lure fishers. Suspending live mudeyes under bubble floats is highly productive for targeting cruising rainbow trout. Anglers should target these banks during early morning before boat traffic on the main lake rises.
- Jounama Creek inflow flats: The shallow gravel flats near this flowing creek inflow offer world-class land-based trout fishing. Wading upstream while casting small inline spinners or drifting dry-and-dropper fly rigs yields excellent results. The clear, fast-flowing water holds beautiful wild brown and rainbow trout that feed aggressively.
- Spillway Wall exclusion banks: Located just outside the 800-metre exclusion zone, these banks provide deep-water access for shore anglers. Casting weighted metal blades or deep-diving hardbodies is effective for targeting schooling redfin. Anglers must strictly respect local safety signs prohibiting all fishing closer than 800 metres below Jounama spillway.
Offshore
- Jounama Creek Arm deeps: Boaters can drift silently through the deep river channels where large trout hold during the day. Trolling with flat-lined Tassie Devils or casting small minnow-profile hardbodies along the clay banks is highly successful. The arm provides excellent shelter from the strong high-country winds.
- Pondage weed bed margins: Submerged weed beds along the margins are a major hotspot for kayak-based anglers. Drifting silently while casting lightweight soft plastics or presenting live mudeyes under bubble floats is highly successful. Boaters should target the outer edges where brown trout wait to ambush prey.
- Main Channel timber snags: The old riverbed channel features scattered standing timber and sunken logs that hold resident native species. Slow-rolling spinnerbaits or casting small soft vibes around the timber bases is highly rewarding. Monitoring the depth finder for schooling baitfish suspended along the channels is key.
- South Jounama clay flats: These expansive clay flats are a prime location for casting dry-and-dropper fly rigs during summer. Wading silently in shallow water allows anglers to sight-cast to cruising rainbow trout feeding on active midges. Keeping boat noise to an absolute minimum is critical as the fish are easily spooked.
Hot Spots
- Jounama Creek Junction: This secluded pool near the creek mouth holds beautifully colored resident rainbow trout.
- Talbingo Road Culvert: These deep pools formed around concrete highway culverts provide excellent structure for schooling redfin.
- Regulating Wall Point: This prominent rocky point features a steep drop-off where boaters can jig blades.
- The Narrows: This narrow stretch connecting the pondage basins holds large brown trout holding in deep currents.
- Western Reed Beds: These shallow margins hold excellent insect life attracting cruising rainbow trout during summer hatches.
Local Bait Tips
- Mudeyes: Mudeyes are gathered by hand-collecting from reeds and submerged structure in still water zones using a small hand net. Bait collectors must carry a valid New South Wales recreational fishing fee receipt at all times.
- Earthworms: Earthworms are harvested by digging with a hand spade in damp, rich soil under rotting logs in moist riparian zones. Hand gathering is fully legal, but collection is strictly prohibited within national park boundaries.
- Freshwater Shrimp: Shrimps are collected by placing a legal shrimp trap baited with cat food along submerged logs in slower sections. Shrimp traps must be clearly marked with owner details and are strictly banned in trout waters.
Boat Ramps
- Jounama Pondage Launching Point:
Jounama Pondage Launching Point: This facility is not an active public boat ramp. While the **Jounama Pondage** is a critical pumped-storage water-regulation reservoir for the Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Scheme, public vessel launching is strictly prohibited or undocumented, and no public ramp infrastructure exists at this location.
Bait and Tackle
- Go Play Outside: 49 Lampe St, Talbingo NSW 2720 | Phone: (02) 6936 0951
- Talbingo Service Station: 321 Miles Franklin Dr, Talbingo NSW 2720 | Phone: (02) 6949 5203
Basecamp & Accom
- Talbingo Tourist Park: Whitty Close, Talbingo NSW 2720 | Phone: (02) 6949 5239
- Talbingo Lodge: 16 Lampe Street, Talbingo NSW 2720 | Phone: (02) 6949 5244
- Jounama Creek Campground: Jounama Creek Road, Talbingo NSW 2720 | Phone: (02) 6947 7025
Emergency & Safety
- Emergency: 000 | Talbingo Police Station: 43 Lampe St, Talbingo NSW 2720 | Phone: (02) 6949 5244
