MONGOLIA TAIMEN FISHING

The Mongolian outfitter that we work with represent literally pioneered Taimen fishing in Mongolia. After 15 successful seasons, and hundreds of happy fishermen, Mongolia today remains one of the most unique fly fishing destinations in the world. Our outfitter continues to refine their operation and continues to offer unrivalled expertise and comfort for the fly fisherman. After all, if you are traveling all the way to Mongolia to fish, why wouldn't you fish with the only group of guides who have been in Mongolia every year since 1995?

Mongolia presents a rare glimpse of a wild, exotic land unchanged for thousands of years. For most, just the opportunity to experience a pristine landscape, undeveloped river valleys lined with healthy forests or a pair of Mongolian riders driving their stock through a river meadow on a crisp fall morning is enough. But for the fly fishermen, Mongolia makes a great trip even better; it is home to the world’s largest trout that are definitely not afraid to violently attack your skated dry flies!

Typical Length of Stay

Standard package is a ten day / nine night package (Wednesday to Friday).

Accommodations and Lodging

Located directly on the banks of the river, the lodge will provide a wonderful and comfortable home during your visit to Mongolia. Anglers stay in “gers” – Mongolian felt tents that are 9 feet high and 18 feet in diameter, much larger than standard wall tents. These gers are equipped with framed full-length single beds, ample room for storing gear, and an area to sit down and relax by a wood stove. Each ger accommodates two fishermen. For many, a stay in a ger is one of the highlights of the trip!

From your arrival in camp until your departure, you will enjoy a high standard of personal service and comfort. The camps are basic but fairly luxurious and offer all of the necessary amenities. Each camp features a bathhouse and shower facilities with plenty of hot water, good pressure, and a wash area with sinks, mirrors and 110-volt electricity (supplied by an on-site generator, which means that you can easily charge video cameras, batteries, etc.) Camps are staffed by both Americans and Mongolians. Each staff member has been selected to help create an overall quality experience for guests. Both the Mongolian staff and the American guides have worked in Mongolia for several years. Days on the river are spent with the guides, and evenings are spent with the Mongolian staff who – with the help of a translator – will entertain you with stories of Mongolian winters and life as nomadic herders. They are a delightful people, and even the most intense anglers find the cultural interaction with Mongolians to be one of the highlights of the trip.

Food and Beverages

The dining lodge provides fishermen an area to congregate and enjoy the hardy camp food. Cuisine at the camp is a variety of American and Mongolian dishes. Each meal is complimented with homemade soup, a variety of salads, fresh-baked breads, dessert, coffee, and tea.

Fishing Information

Mongolia is home to the world's largest surviving salmonid, the taimen. They are an exceptionally ferocious predator which feed on ducks, prairie dogs, mice, and fish. Historically, taimen had one of the largest ranges of any of the salmonids with a habitat extending from the Pechora River near the Kola Peninsula to the Kamchatka Peninsula in eastern Russia. Taimen have been known to reach weights of 200 pounds in the rivers of Siberia, and – in Mongolia – the largest fish landed to date on a fly weighed approximately 75 pounds. They are quickly becoming renowned for their voracious strikes. Most of fishing for taimen is done with dry flies. Mouse flies work great, as taimen almost always attack a properly fished dry fly swinging across the surface. All fishing is catch and release with single, barbless hooks. Taimen are handled with the utmost of care and consideration of the fish's well being.

Perhaps the most overlooked aspect of the fishing in Mongolia is the dry fly fishing for Lenok, the oldest member of the trout family. Lenok run from 16 to 30-inches long. They spend a majority of their time in shallow water where they are very accessible to anglers fishing assorted dry flies and terrestrials. Once hooked, fly fishermen discover a great sportfish which has been largely ignored.

Boats and Equipment

Fishermen will fish from 18-ft. aluminum “semi-v” Lowe boats powered by 55 HP Mariner jet units with two fishermen to a boat. Atlantic salmon-style drops are possible for fishermen that enjoy a break from wading. Each boat is equipped with tools, an emergency kit, and a cooler for food and drinks during the day. It is recommended that anglers bring all rods, reels, waders, boots and terminal tackle.

Non-Angling Activities and Options

We suggest spending a day in Ulaanbaatar before or after your time at the fishing camp. Visits to the Gandan Hiid Buddhist Monastery, the Winter and Summer Palaces, the Gobi Cashmere Factory, and the local museums and markets are fascinating. Combination trips to other destinations such as the Gobi Desert, Kharkorum or Lake Hovsgol can also be arranged.

How To Get There

Your trip starts upon arrival Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia where you will be met by a representative from the camp.

Arrival and Departure Details / Times

You will arrive in Mongolia on Sunday via Seoul, South Korea or Beijing, China.  You will be met at the airport by a representative of the outfitter and transferred to your hotel. Package price includes airport transfers in Mongolia and hotel lodging the night before departure to camp and the night after returning from camp. On Tuesday through Sunday you will enjoy six full days of fishing at camp. On Monday after breakfast, you will fly to back to Ulaanbaatar., spend night in UlaanBaatar, and transfer to airport for return trip to US via Seoul or Beijing on Tuesday. 

2012 Rates / Package Costs

The standard package is a ten day / nine night package (Wednesday to Friday). All prices are per person and based on double occupancy.

Spring Rates --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- $5,600

Fall Rates ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- $5,900

*** Single lodging supplement is an additional $500.00 per person

The difference in price is due to the fact you fly a charter to the lodge in the fall and a commercial plane to a nearby town in the spring.

* Remember that Yellow Dog's services are completely free! When you book a trip with Yellow Dog, you never pay more than when you book directly with the lodge or outfitter.

What's Included

• Two nights hotel accommodations in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia with breakfast
• All transfers in country
• Round-trip helicopter flight to camp
• All camp accommodations based on double occupancy
• All meals in camp
• Beer and wine at the fishing camp
• Fly patterns
• Guide services based on one American guide per two anglers

What's Not Included

• Airfare to and from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
• Any necessary visas
• Gratuities to camp staff, guides and hotel personnel
• Baggage handling or overweight charges
• Personal items, alcoholic beverages, telephone calls, and laundry
• All fishing equipment (rods, reels, wafer and boots)
• Airport departure taxes
• Mongolian fishing license ($100 U.S.)

Travel Arrangements

Yellow Dog has a full in-house travel and reservations system, and can assist with airline tickets, hotels, transfers, and all travel logistics for every destination that we offer. Contact us at 888-777-5060 or info@yellowdogflyfishing.com for more details on airfare ticketing, travel services and trip insurance

Other Information

Taimen Conservation Project

With the generous support of the World Bank and anglers from around the world, our Mongolian outfitters launched the world's first Taimen Conservation Project on the Eg-Ur watershed in Mongolia. Working had in hand with Mongolia's Buddhist community, the Mongolian Taimen Conservation Fund, and the American non-profit "The Tributary Fund", the Taimen Conservation Project will protect the world's most robust Taimen population.

Our Mongolian outfitters utilize only single, barbless hooks, and all fishing is catch and release. They manage their river very carefully to insure that all anglers have the fishing trip of a lifetime. These guys are not an eco-tourism company that does "some" fishing. They are professional fly fishing outfitters who literally pioneered fly fishing for Taimen.

On a final note, if you fish with a company that has dead fish on its website, you will not only be supporting the demise of Taimen, but you will also have a very disappointing trip when you discover that the fish in the pictures are no longer in the river. Please support responsible outfitters.