MONGOLIA
The outfitters now have four camps set up on privately leased land in different areas of the country. Three of the camps are considered to be in the northern part of the country just miles from the Russian boarder. They are strategically positioned to allow access to over 90 river miles. This is a beautiful region characterized by rolling forests of larch, birch, and alder. The other camp is located further south in an area of vast grasslands. This camp is fished primarily in the Fall to take advantage of its slightly warmer climate.
Anglers stay in traditional Mongolia Gers, which are felt tents wrapped around a collapsible wooden frame. They are equipped with single beds, a wood stove and a small table and chairs.
Mongolia - Taimen Fishing:
The main draw to Mongolia is unquestionably Taimen. Taimen are the World's largest salmonoids and have been recorded at over 200 lbs. The camp record to date is a massive 62" fish which weighed between 40-50 pounds. The average size is between 28" and 30". One of the most impressive characteristics of these fish is their fondness of surface patterns and the aggressiveness of their strike. In short, their take is explosive. What makes it even better is that you can spend the entire week skating dry flies much as one would for steelhead or Atlantic salmon.
The rivers fished are low gradient and some are clear while others have a slight tannin tint. Most are 40-120 ft wide and easy to wade. You will access these rivers via 18 ft Lowe boats with 55 horse Mariner jets. On occasion, you will fish from the boat, but the majority of the time, expect to wade.
Mongolia - Taimen Guiding Staff:
The guiding staff at the camps consists of highly experienced guides, who are professionals and well respected in the fly fishing world. More importantly, though, they are very personable and will do everything possible to make your fishing vacation in Mongolia a memorable one.
Mongolia - Taimen Boats and Equipment:
Fishermen will fish from 18 ft aluminum semi-v Lowe boats powered by 55hp Mariner jet units with two fishermen to a boat. The majority of the fishing will be wading rather than boat fishing.
However, Atlantic salmon-style drops are possible for fishermen that enjoy a break from wading. Each boat is equipped with life vests, an emergency kit, and a cooler for food and drinks during the day.
Mongolia - Taimen Cuisine:
Food is prepared by an experienced Mongolian kitchen staff, and, generally, clients have been quite pleased with the food. Daily meals include a wide range of traditional Mongolian and American dishes. After a soup course, grilled lamb, beef, chicken and fish prepared in a variety of fashions may accompany side dishes of steamed carrots, beets, cabbage, potatoes and other vegetables. Mixed salads are served nightly.
On the river, fishermen can enjoy a shore lunch of barbecued steak, venison or pork. If fishermen find it impossible to take a break from the fishing, more simple lunches of soup, sandwiches and desserts are always available. All food is prepared with properly filtered water, so there is no need to pack bottled water.
Mongolia - Taimen Political Overview:
In 1990, Mongolia declared its independence from Russia. This sudden liberation caused an immediate economic collapse. Like other satellite states, Mongolia had been completely dependent on the Soviet Union's welfare system.
Unemployment soared, as did the price of essential consumer goods. For the first time, Russians began demanding hard currency for their goods. The Mongolians were left without the means to keep their cities running. It soon became apparent that, on its own, Mongolia did not have the infrastructure to survive. However, the Mongolians are hardy people well prepared for food, gas, and other shortages, and they were dedicated to change. Since their independence, the country's economy has slowly improved.
If restaurants, bars, hotels, and foreign goods are considered signs of flourishing economy, then Ulaanbaatar, the capital, is booming. Unfortunately for most Mongolians, stocked shelves don't mean much. During the communist era the shelves were empty. Now in more democratic times they are filled with products beyond their imaginations or salaries. Still, Mongolians are dedicated to making their country work, seemingly unfazed by the hardships of their daily lives.
More recently, Mongolia elected a former communist to be president. To the surprise of the rest of the world, Mongolia has kept to a platform of free market reform. State-owned companies continue to be auctioned off daily to a new breed of Mongolian entrepreneurs. Coupled with vast foreign aid, Mongolia seems to be approaching a promising new era.
Mongolia - Taimen Terrain:
Mongolia is roughly the size of Alaska. It has an extremely diverse terrain: vast semi-desert and desert plains, extensive grasslands, unbroken larch and pine forests, and high mountains.
In 1999, the northern camps were opened for a spring exploratory season. The fishing has been outstanding during both our spring and fall seasons.
At the two northern camps, clients can expect a predominance of larch, birch and alder forests and lush ground vegetation. This combination of wide fertile valleys and thick forests and surrounding mountains provide the fly fisherman with stunning views. At the southern camp, the rivers remind a fisherman of some of our more famous dry-land waters like the Green River in Utah or Oregon's Deschutes River. In this area, the valley floor is rarely heavily forested. Rather it tends to be dry unfenced grasslands. Also, the mountains are higher in elevation than those at our Northern fishery and are forested with heavy stands of birch and larch. They are inhabited by some of Mongolia's largest elk herds.
Mongolia - Taimen Climate:
Mongolia, again like Montana, is a dry place with great daily and seasonal temperature ranges. During August, September and early October (the taimen fishing season) the weather in the region to be fished is typically quite good. Sunny days and cold nights are the norm; however, fishermen should come prepared for potential fall weather.
The first few seasons in Mongolia have been have been studies in contrast; in 2000 clients remarked that they thought the weather would be warmer, and, in 2001, the clients remarked that they thought the weather would be colder. Consequently, fishermen should come prepared for fall weather, which could either be sunny and warm or cold and rainy/snowy. Also remember that the later your trip, the colder it may be. As a side note, our southern camp season begins and ends later. The weather at the southern camp is
generally warmer and drier, but fishermen should be prepared for occasional blustery fall weather at the southern camp as well.
Language:
The official language of Mongolia is Khalka Mongol. Secondary languages include Russian and English. Language, however, will not be a concern during your stay. When you are in Ulaanbaatar, you will be escorted by an English-speaking guide.
Ulaanbaatar:
Ulaanbaatar is the capital of Mongolia and home to nearly a third of its population. UB, as it is referred to by the expatriates and tourists, is Mongolia's business and tourism hub. It, like the Mongolian weather is a study of contrasts; it is home to new hotels, old Soviet-style apartment buildings, vast public squares and cows, goats and horses wander through its parks in search of some undiscovered grass. On the outskirts of UB, there are heavily forested mountains and on the outskirts of the city there are Mongolian gers scattered in every direction.
Religion:
The predominant religion in Mongolia is Tibetan Buddhist Lamaism. Unfortunately most of the Mongolian monasteries were destroyed during the communist rule. Near our camps there are a number of shrines at the sites where temples were pillaged and destroyed. Interested clients can enjoy visits to the Gaandan Hiid Monastery in Ulaanbaatar and other more famous Buddhist temples throughout Mongolia. Religion has made a complete revival since Mongolia's independence.
Currency:
The national currency of Mongolia is the togrog. While the currency has stabilized to a certain degree, clients are urged to change only what is immediately necessary. Keep in mind that tourist shops in Ulaanbaatar eagerly accept US dollars. Some clients have encountered difficulty cashing travellers checks in UB, however, travellers checks
are accepted at most shops and our camps.
Mongolia - Taimen Travel:
Traveling to Mongolia is not nearly as difficult as it would seem. Ulaanbaatar, is just a two-hour flight from Beijing or a three hour from Seoul by commercial airline.
Mongolia - Taimen 2009 Rates:
$5,900 per person per week, based on double occupancy
Included
Accommodations and meals in Ulaanbaatur on arrival and departure day, all transportation within the country, all meals including beer and occasionally wine at the camp, flies.
Not Included
Gratuities, alcohol, transportation to and from Ulaanbaatur.
Mongolia - Taimen Fishing Tips:
Taimen fishing in Mongolia is a lot like fly fishing for oversized Atlantic salmon or steelhead on a dry fly. It is similar because you are fishing for taimen in the current and, consequently, need to keep your fly riding high in the water. By riffle hitching a mouse, large muddler or streamer, fishermen can keep their fly twitching through the surface film. Taimen have a true weakness for flies presented in this fashion.
For fly fishermen, though, getting your fly to ride properly is the least of your problems. Keep in mind that some of these fish are 4 to 6 feet long. Now imagine a fish that large visibly chasing down your fly. In some cases taimen will come completely out of the water and hit your fly on their way back into the water. Other times taimen will simply follow it slowly with their tail out of the water some four feet behind the fly and attempt to gulp it in slowly like a Montana cutthroat. Whatever the case, more often than not it is a spectacle that will bewilder even the most experienced, and the result is that the fisherman will pull the fly away from the fish before an actual take.
Remember, like Atlantic salmon and steelhead fishing, it is crucial that you let the fish take down the fly before striking. If you get that far, once the fish is hooked up try to keep calm (because the fish won't!). Don't run down the shoreline trying to get below the fish. It is far more crucial to keep control on a fish this large. By running you will probably just stumble and break a rod. Once the fish has made its initial run, then
walk down trying to get even with the fish keeping good tension.
Landing taimen is an extremely tricky matter. They simply don't make nets large enough. Consequently it is important to pull the fish into the shallows until just the eyes are out of the water. At this point, hold it tight until the fish relaxes and allows you to approach it. Then, believe it or not, you can slide a hand under their gill without damaging the fish. Do not try to hoist a huge taimen with one hand. They will twist your hand and make you quite sorry. This all sounds fairly terrifying, but in reality it is simple - let your guide take care of it.
Keep in mind that all taimen are released, so please treat them with great care! Do not pull them onto the shore under any circumstances.
This information is deemed reliable but has not been verified by Leland Fly Fishing Outfitters.