Mongolia taimen fishing
Fly Fishing for Taimen - Mongolia
Eg-Uur Watershed
Mongolia is roughly the size of Alaska and is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south. Mongolia is the least densely populated country in the world. It has an extremely diverse terrain—vast semi-desert and desert plains, extensive grasslands, unbroken larch, and pine forests, and high mountains. The three taimen fishing camps sit amid fertile valleys, thick forests, and surrounding mountains. This terrain is inhabited by some of Mongolia’s elk herds, and wolves, roe deer, moose, and bear.
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Taimen
Catch a 60-inch Siberian trout on a dry fly.The last three taimen world-records were landed here on a dry fly. Since 1995, our outfitter has offered taimen fishing trips in Mongolia.
Taimen are the largest fish in the salmon family on earth, reaching lengths of over 60 inches! Aggressive and known for their explosive strike, taimen sometimes leap out of the water on the strike. It's easy to pull too soon. Keep stripping until you feel the weight of the taimen, then strip-set the hook. If you miss, get that fly back out there. Chances are this aggressive fish will pound your fly again!
Although taimen primarily eat small fish, they will eat almost anything they can fit in their mouth, including small mammals and even ducklings.
Lenok
In appearance, Lenok look like a brown trout with the mouth of a tarpon. Lenok average 18-inches and are very entertaining on lighter fly rods. Larger lenok often dine on mice patterns and streamers.
During hatches, two things become apparent; one, the rivers of Mongolia are full of 12-to 18-inch grayling; and two, taimen consider grayling a delicacy. Like the lenok, grayling provide good sport and action on dries. Fish for them like you would Montana trout—in early fall, they like terrestrials, and in late fall, they like mayflies. When the Lenok are feasting on mayflies, Taimen are often feasting on Lenok.
The Fishery
The camps combine a friendly atmosphere and plenty of fishing water. Each camp has access to over 75 miles of water. Fly-fishing-only with single barbless hooks, and catch-and-release only.
It's hard to imagine that these large prehistoric fish live in these waters. The rivers are clear and easy to wade, a fly angler’s dream. The banks are easy walking, ranging in size from 40 to 120-feet wide. Oddly enough, the largest taimen to date was taken on a mouse pattern in a particularly narrow stretch of the river. Taimen, lenok, Arctic grayling, and Amur pike are all present in the region.
Here, most taimen caught on a fly are between 25 to 40-inches and roughly 10-pounds. However, almost every week, anglers will have chances on fish over 50-inches. The camp record is a 60.5" taimen, weighing between 60-and 80-pounds.
PDF Article on Mongolia Taimen Camp
Fishing Facts
The Season typically runs for four weeks, from September 2 to October 2.
Group size: The Camp is limited to six anglers per week.
Boats: Fish from 18’ aluminum Semi-V Lowe boats, powered by 55 HP Mariner jet units, with two anglers per boat.
You'll mostly be wade fishing. However, Atlantic salmon-style drops are possible for anglers that enjoy a break from wading.
Each boat is equipped with life jackets, tools, an emergency kit, and a cooler for food and drinks during the day.
Guides: Personable, English-speaking guide staff (many from Montana) all with at least ten years experience in high-quality lodges and camps.
Fishing Equipment: No equipment is provided. The guides will have all the leader and tippet that you'll need for fishing. A comprehensive tackle and gear list is included in our confirmation packet.
Fishing License: is not included in the package, $440.00 USD.
Typical Fishing Day:
7:00 a.m. Coffee's on.
8:00 a.m. Breakfast.
9:00 a.m. Start fishing.
Lunch is served at the Lodge or a shore lunch of barbecued steak, venison, or pork by your guide.
6:00 p.m. You'll return to the camp, enjoy a hot shower, then appetizers.
8:00 p.m. Dinnertime.
Fishing Camps
Situated on nice stretches of river in the remote outback of Mongolia, the camps are strategically located to enable anglers
to access over 120 combined miles of river by jet boats. These remote camps have very limited access to the outside world, which enhances
the fishery and the adventure. Each camp has gers (yurts), a dining lodge, a bathhouse, a shower facility, and two masseuses and are the most comfortable fishing camps in Mongolia. 110-volt electricity is supplied by an on-site generator and is available for charging video cameras, satellite phones, etc. There is no cell phone reception; however, they do have satellite phones.
Each ger is 9-feet high by 18-feet wide and accommodates two anglers. Anglers stay in traditional Mongolian gers, which are felt tents wrapped around a collapsible wooden frame. Each yurt has two single beds, plenty of room for your gear, hot water for washing your hands and face, and a sitting area by the woodstove.
In the dining yurt, you'll enjoy meals prepared by a professionally trained chef and fresh produce from Ulaanbaatar.
Sample Itinerary:
Sunday: You'll arrive in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from Seoul, South Korea, or Beijing, China. You’ll be met at the airport by a representative and driven to the Hovsgol Travel Hotel, where you'll stay your first night. The hotel is located near downtown and has a Brazilian barbeque restaurant on the main floor. Dinner is on your own.
Monday: At 9:00 a.m., you'll be driven to the airport for your flight to camp. Travel from Ulaanbaatar to the camp is included in the package and is either by helicopter or fixed-wing charter. You'll either take a two hour helicopter flight directly to camp or a 1.25-hour fixed-wing flight and then a one-hour drive from the landing strip to camp. If time allows, you can fish upon arrival.
Tuesday to Sunday: Six full days of fishing at camp.
Monday: After breakfast, you’ll fly back to Ulaanbaatar. You'll again spend the night in Ulaanbaatar at the Hovsgol Travel Hotel. Dinner is on your own.
Tuesday: Transfer to airport for your return trip to the U.S. via Seoul or Beijing.
2023 USD Rates:
8-nights and 6.5-days guided fishing: $7,250.00 per person
(2 hotel nights and 6-nights at camp)
The Packages Include:
• Airport reception in Ulaanbaatar• Ground transfers to hotel/airport in Ulaanbaatar
• First and last night hotel stay in Ulaanbaatar
• Breakfast at the hotel
• Flight between Ulaanbaatar and Camp
• 6.5-days guided fishing
• Flies, leader, and tippets
• 7-nights Lodging at Camp
All meals at Camp
• Beer, sodas, and some wine at Camp.
The Packages Do Not Include:
• Airfare to Mongolia, and return• Meals in Ulaanbaatar
• Gratuities to guides and staff
• Fishing license, $440.00 paid with invoice
• Fishing equipment
• Incidental expenses
• Global Rescue
• Travel Insurance
• Anything not mentioned under inclusions.
Gratuities:
Gratuities are not included in the cost of the package and are left to your discretion. For planning purposes, anglers can expect a range of 10% to 15% of the package per guest per week ($725.00 to $1,087.50). All tips will be pooled and distributed among the entire camp staff.
