Mongolia

Mongolia Taimen

Fly Fishing the Eg-Uur Rivers

Three Taimen Camps

Catch a 60-inch Siberian trout on a dry fly. The last three taimen world records were landed here on a dry fly.

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 highly diverse terrain—vast semi-desert and desert plains, extensive grasslands, unbroken larch, pine forests, and high mountains. The three taimen fishing camps sit amid fertile valleys, thick forests, and surrounding mountains. Elk herds, wolves, roe deer, and bears inhabit the terrain.
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Three Taimen Fishing Camps

Three Taimen Fishing Camps

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 Fishing

Lenok fishing

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 Eg-Uur Fishery

Three Taimen Fishing Camps

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 large prehistoric fish living in these waters. The rivers are clear and easy to wade, a fly angler’s dream. The banks are easy to walk, ranging 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 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

Taimen fishing boats

Camp Season:  The camps are typically open for four prime fishing weeks, from September 2 to October 2.
Group size:  The Camp is limited to six anglers per week.
Boats:  Fish from 18 ft. 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 who enjoy a break from wading. Each boat has 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 of experience in high-quality lodges and camps.
Fishing Equipment:  No equipment is provided. The guides will have all the leaders and tippets you'll need for fishing. A comprehensive tackle and gear list is included in our confirmation packet.
Fishing License:  A Mongolia fishing license is $450.00 USD and is not included in the package.

Typical Fishing Day:
7:00 am  Coffee's on.
8:00 am - Breakfast.
9:00 am  Start fishing.
Midday - Lunch is served at the Lodge or a shore lunch of barbecued steak, venison, or pork by your guide.
6:00 pm  You'll return to the camp, enjoy a hot shower, then appetizers.
8:00 pm - Dinnertime.

Taimen Fishing at Eg-Uur Rivers in Mongolia
Mongolia Taimen Camp

Situated on nice stretches of river in the remote outback of Mongolia, the three strategically-located Taimen Camps 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. An on-site generator supplies 110-volt electricity for charging video cameras, satellite phones, etc. There is no cell phone reception; however, they have satellite phones.

Mongolia Dining Room

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.

Mongolia Dining Room

Meals:  In the dining yurt, you'll enjoy Mongolian and American dishes prepared by professionally trained chefs.
Beverages:  Beer, soft drinks, and occasionally wine are provided at the Camps and included in the package. You can also purchase desired alcohol on the way here at duty-free stores at airports or in Ulaanbaatar.

Mongolia Dining Room

Getting Here
and Sample Itinerary:

You’ll fly to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, via Seoul, South Korea, or Beijing, China.
Sunday:  You’ll be met at the international airport in Ulaanbaatar by a Camp representative and driven to the Hovsgol Travel Hotel, where you'll stay your first night. The hotel is near downtown. Dinner is on your own.
Monday:  At 9:00 am, you'll be driven to the airport for your flight to camp. For travel from Ulaanbaatar to the camp, 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 spend the night again in Ulaanbaatar at the Hovsgol Travel Hotel. Dinner is on your own.
Tuesday:  Transfer to the airport for your return trip to the U.S. via Seoul or Beijing.

2024 USD Rate:

8-nights and 6.5-days guided fishing:
$7,300.00 per person
+ $800.00 for the charter flight to camp
= $8,100.00 per person
+ $450.00 for fishing license

Non-Angler Companion:
$4,275.00 per person
+ $800.00 charter flight to camp
= $5,175.00 per person

Request a Mongolia Taimen
Information Packet,  

The Package Includes:

• Airport reception in Ulaanbaatar
• Ground transfers to hotel/airport in Ulaanbaatar
• First and last night hotel stay in Ulaanbaatar
• Breakfast at the hotel
• Flights between Ulaanbaatar and Camp, $800.00 paid with invoice
• 6.5-days guided fishing
• Flies, leaders, and tippets
• 7-nights Lodging at Camp
• All meals at Camp
• Beer, sodas, and some wine at Camp.

The Package Does Not Include:

• Airfare to Mongolia, and return
• Meals in Ulaanbaatar
• Gratuities to guides and staff
• Fishing license, $450.00 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. All tips will be pooled and distributed among the entire camp staff.

Non-Angler Activities:
 Each camp has a full-time translator and guide who can accompany you on non-angling activities. From these camps, you can ride horses, do some birdwatching, visit local villages and schools, and visit families that still live a nomadic lifestyle. Each camp has horses available for easy access to the backcountry that awaits only minutes from camp.


Ger (yurt) and Camel at Camp

Ger (yurt) and Camel at Camp

Mongolia Taimen Camps


Trophy-Sized Lenok

Angler with Lenok

Mongolia Taimen

Angler crouched with Large Taimen

Fishing Travel Experts


Guy Schoenborn

1-800-205-3474 ext. 1

MT Office:  406-322-5709

Email:  guy@fishingwithlarry.com

Brad Staples

1-800-205-3474 ext. 3

Cell (503) 250-0558

Email:  brad@fishingwithlarry.com