The Fish and Fishing in Mongolia

Whatever your fishing experience, fishing in Mongolia - especially fishing for Taimen in Mongolia - will be something to savour and remember:

• There are bigger fish, but few that offer such spectacular surface takes as Taimen;


• there are few locations as stunningly beautiful as the mountains and rivers of northern Mongolia; and


• there are few peoples as inherently hospitable as the Mongolian herders.

Altogether, fishing holidays in Mongolia are about so much more than just catching fish ... yet you should never be disappointed in that respect.

Taimen are not the only worthwhile species of fish in Mongolian rivers. Lenok and Arctic Grayling also offer great sport, in greater numbers. There's always a chance of hooking into other exotics. You may even prefer to go for variety over quality and quantity. There are two other sub-species of Grayling to aim for, as well as Siberian Whitefish, River Perch, Burbot and Tench - to name but a few of the more recognizable ones.

You probably won't want to go out and buy rods and reels just for the one fishing holiday in Mongolia - but we highly recommend that you get new leaders and flies as you will be fishing on a different scale. More to the point, the Mongolian government has introduced a law making it illegal for foreigners to catch and kill Taimen anywhere in the country. Using single barbless hooks is the preferred option and may soon become mandatory. Please check out our Responsible Fishing page so that you know the Best Practices for Catch & Release.

Even if you already use flies on barbless hooks regularly, you are unlikely to have many of these of the right pattern and size. We are working with Czech Nymphs to produce a range of flies suitable for any of our fishing holidays. We will be sure to announce when these are ready. We will maintain a small stock in-country for re-sale but, for more choice, we recommend you check out their website in plenty of time.

Grayling

Thymallus arcticus

Actually there are three sub-species of Grayling found in Mongolian rivers. We'll consider the largest of these here as these are obviously the ones you'll want to catch.

Grayling have a dark back with a bronze tint to the sides. Their distinctive feature is a blue/purple dorsal fin, unusually large for a river fish. Other signs to confirm your catch are a series of black spots behind the head, in line with the mouth, and a black line in the fold under the mouth. The average Grayling is from 30-40 cm long. The biggest found reach 75 cm, and weigh close to 4 Kg.

Grayling are a shoaling fish, unlike most trout. They are often found in large numbers in Mongolian rivers allowing for plentiful sport, especially as Grayling are renowned for taking a whole range of baits and putting up a good fight.

Grayling are best fished for with an 8' 6" to 9', 4 or 5 weight rod using a floating line. A 9' tapered leader is standard, with a fine tippet. Pretty much any dry fly pattern suitable for Trout is suitable for Grayling.

There are days, especially in autumn, when the Grayling are not rising and fishing with a wet fly is the only viable option. Try a mixed team of three until you find what patterns are working best.

If you plan to try Nymphing then you may want a slightly longer (up to 10') 5 or 6 weight rod. This will allow you to cover more of the water whilst keeping in contact with the line.

Lenok

Brachymystax lenok

Lenok are an attractive dark-brown fish, with only a narrow strip of silver along the belly. They have dark spots on their flanks from head to tail. This colouration changes during the spawning season, with a pronounced red tinge to the body, and a rainbow effect on the dorsal and pectoral fins.

Lenok have been known to grow to over a metre long, though a fish of 70cm is considered big. At that length the Lenok would weigh in at about 8 Kg.

Lenok live in rivers and lakes, never migrating to the sea. Instead, they are happy to spend the winter months living under the thick ice that covers the lakes in their range.

Lenok are voracious eaters, concentrating largely on the large insect population. Their favourites are Caddis flies and May flies, in the larval stage as well as the full blown adults - but they will also take both crickets and grasshoppers.

Larger Lenok are apt to take a wider range of prey, including small fish, frogs, mice and fish spawn.

Lenok can be fished for with the same set-up as used for Grayling. In fact, you are pretty sure to catch a mixed bag of these two species whatever. Mice patterns can be particularly effective at dusk. It helps to observe real mice swimming to know how to imitate the circumstances and movement.

Taimen

Hucho taimen

Although Taimen are known to spend time in lakes they do prefer to claim a territory in a section of river; preferably one which is fast flowing and with a variable depth. Deep holes are ideal for hiding out from the heat of summer, or the intense cold of winter.

Taimen have a light brown colour across their backs, often with a red tinge to the fins. They have faint spots - but probably the most distinguishing feature is their size.

Taimen are commonly found in excess of 80 cm and 10 Kg. With a maximum size reported to be around 2.1 m long and 90 Kg in weight. Fish over 1.2 m are considered 'big'.

Such bulk cannot be sustained on a fussy diet. Nicknamed the 'River Wolf' and 'King of the River', Taimen are voracious eaters of anything in, on and even near to the water (anglers in waders are, fortunately, too rubbery for their tastes). They have great eyesight and have even been known to snatch rodents from the shore. They will catch other smaller fish, including other smaller Taimen. It's not unknown for an angler bringing in one fish to suddenly feel a much larger pull on their line.

Much of the Taimen's reputation as a mighty catch stems from the way that they will take birds and rodents from the surface. The snatch is fast and dramatic, which can be incredibly sensational when you realise that it's happening on the end of your line.

Taimen spawn in May. Our fishing holidays only begin in mid-June in support of local conservation measures.

Taimen are regularly fished for with a 9', 9 or 10 weight rod. There is a trend to using longer two-handed rods on the bigger rivers so as to be able to deliver larger flies over long fishing days without undue fatigue.

Taimen fishing need not be on the surface. Sink tip and intermediate (T-200, T-300) lines are often used to good effect. Many choose a floating line simply because surface takes are so dramatic, and more fun.

Fish with big tube flies and streamers attached to a 20 lb leader. Mouse patterns work a treat, though you can use even bigger rigs than those you would use for Lenok.

Other species

Fishes of Mongolia

For a definitive list of species found in Mongolia, with diagrams (mostly colour photos) to aid identification, take a look at Fishes of Mongolia by Maurice Kottelat - a document produced for the World Bank.

Amur Pike

The Amur Pike, Esox reichertii, can be found in the Selenge, Onon and Kherlen river systems in Mongolia. Only the Onon River holds significant numbers.

Typically, these fish are distinguished by a pattern of dark spots on a mostly light-coloured body.

Amur Pike have been known to reach lengths of up to 1.00m and weights approaching 16Kg

Amur Pike feed on a similar diet to pike found elsewhere and most fishing is done with lures or small fish (live bait or dead).

Siberian Pike

The Siberian Pike, Esox lucius, (a.k.a. Northern Pike) is mostly found in the Selenge River system in Mongolia.

Siberian Pike are usually darker than Amur Pike, with a mottled pattern.

Fish of this species have been known to reach 1.50m and 35Kg, but no fish this big has been taken in Mongolia.