MONGOLIA
The world’s largest Trout
Location description: Mongoliet
Mongolia is the 18th largest country in the world by area, but its population of only 3 million makes it the world’s most sparsely populated country. Genghis Khan, born in Temujin around May 31, 1162, established the Mongol Empire in 1206. Volcanos, waterfall, and Ice age brown trout.
Join our hosts to some of the most spectacular and remote places and fly fish for species you did not know existed. Volcanos, waterfall, and Ice age brown trout.
Fish Mongolia and Mongolia River Outfitters are situated five hundred miles (800 kilometers) apart. Although both river drainages offer very unique and quite different fishing experiences, they share a commonality of great service, productive fisheries, spectacular scenery, and waters exceptionally well suited to the fly angler.
Northern Mongolia sits at the top of two of Asia’s major watersheds. The northwestern rivers drain into the Yenisei River and the Arctic Ocean and the eastern rivers drain into the Amur River and the Pacific Ocean. Together, these two rivers represent over 400 miles of taimen habitat conserved in partnership with local communities.
Fish Mongolia operates on western Mongolia’s most awe-inspiring taimen and trout stream. This beautiful freestone river flows for nearly two hundred miles through a magnificent canyon. The limestone and granite cliffs rise hundreds of feet above the river. Steep gorges filled with larch and birch forests cascade towards the valley floor. Extremely large taimen lie in wait within the easily negotiated rapids and rock gardens. Banks covered with willows give way to deep pools, sparkling braids, and wide gravel bars. The scenery and fishing are both world class.
Mongolia River Outfitters is responsible for all angling and fisheries conservation for the best Pacific watershed river, coursing through a vast landscape of grassy steppes and rugged mountains. These remote eastern steppes border the Khentii Mountain Range to the west, the mystic birthplace of Chinggis Khaan. This stream flows over two hundred and fifty miles through a lush and productive landscape and holds fantastic numbers of taimen, lenok, Amur trout, and Amur pike. The landscape is pastoral; rolling hills are punctuated by tall cliffs, forests of larch and Siberian pine, and extremely healthy grasslands. The stream is constantly changing with a variety of shallow runs, deep pools, quick riffles, and long braids, providing fly anglers with endless opportunities to encounter big fish.
Taimen are perhaps the world’s most incredible fly fishing experience. Every taimen you encounter – whether you miss it or land it – is sure to create a lasting memory.
Taimen are a pre-historic mega-fish, and the largest member of the salmonid family. Taimen will migrate great distances each year to access spawning, feeding, and winter habitats. Mongolian taimen do not run out to the ocean or even large lakes, preferring to spend their entire life cycle in the rivers where they were spawned.
In Mongolia, taimen can live for nearly fifty years and reach over sixty
inches in length. Although we often catch several giant taimen every season, most Mongolian taimen caught on the fly are generally between 25 – 40 inches.
These taimen will often go airborne. Like a big tarpon, they will tail walk along the river’s surface. In skinny water, they will rocket across the river for greater depths. The four-foot long predator on the end of your line will charge around the pool, bore deep and shake its head violently like a very, very big brown trout.
Amur Trout are an incredibly exotic species of trout, found only in a few drainages in the world, including Mongolia River Outfitter’s eastern operation. These fish are always beautiful and typically large, usually attacking the same big flies we fish for taimen. They are usually a favorite of the guides because they are so rare.
Taimen, Mongolian Trout, Amur trout and Greyling
MRO/FM supplies all flies. Anglers bring personal items, suitable fishing clothing, and tackle. We provide a detailed packing list. Best taimen rods: single-handed 8 – 9 weight. Best trout rods: single-handed 4 – 6 weight.
dry-fly and streamer. Trout: primarily dry.
We have comfortable Mongolian ger (yurt) camps along much of the Taimen Sanctuarys’ waters. These traditional felt covered dwellings are perfect for these trips: comfortable, aesthetically pleasing, and environmentally and socially appropriate for the wilderness of the Mongolian countryside The camps are one day’s float apart, each one situated along a uniquely beautiful stretch of river with great fishing right out the front door. All camps have the amenities one would expect to find on a comfortable African tented safari.
On the most remote sections of river, more mobile tented camps are established, including a combination of traditional ger camps and more rustic camps outfitted with large, comfortable Tent Tipi manufactured tipis complete with cots. Tent Tipis are set up for two anglers per tipi on comfortable cots.
June-August and September-October
GALLERY
