So, you’ve caught every type of Salmon and landed the Trout of a lifetime – on fly gear, no less! What’s next? For the truly adventurous angler, there’s Taimen fishing.
As the largest salmonid, Taimen are related to other popular game fish like Salmon, Trout, Grayling, and Char. While their size rivals all of these, the true challenge is how elusive they are. These fish are few and far between, and their fishing grounds are confined to the remote reaches of Russia and Mongolia.
The easiest waters to reach will have you driving off-road for hours, while true sanctuaries for these fish require small aircraft, river rafting, and horse packing through Asia’s mountains. For devout fly fishermen, Taimen are indeed the holy grail. And believe us, the pilgrimage in search of them is nothing short of transcendent.
How to Identify Taimen
There are four kinds of Taimen, which range from western Europe to Japan. These include Siberian Taimen (Hucho taimen), Sichuan Taimen (Hucho bleekeri), Korean Taimen (Hucho ishikawae), and Danube Salmon/Huchen (Hucho hucho). All of them bear a strong resemblance to their salmonid cousins. In fact, Taimen basically look like long and slender Trout, with speckled sides and vibrant red tails.
Siberian Taimen are the largest and most sought-after variety. They’re native to Russia, Mongolia, and China, but overfishing has left them scarce beyond eastern Russia and parts of Mongolia. These fish are sometimes referred to as “Siberian Salmon,” while, in Mongolia, they’re affectionately known as “River Wolf” and “River God’s Daughter” in China.
On average, Siberian Taimen measure 25–40 inches (60–100 cm) long and weigh about 30 pounds (13 kilos). However, they can easily grow over 6 feet. The biggest confirmed record was a commercial-caught fish that weighed 231 pounds (105 kilos) and measured 83 inches (210 cm). Since then, recreational anglers have landed specimens well over 100 pounds, with the current IGFA all-tackle record standing at 115 pounds, 8 ounces.
While you might not catch a record-breaker, there’s a decent chance of landing your own fish of a lifetime. Any Taimen over 50 inches is considered a trophy.
Taimen populations are greatly reduced from what they once were. That means that these fish are highly protected and fishing for them is usually limited to catch and release. Be careful not to fish for them outside of regulated areas and always go with a local guide. Most destinations mentioned here have permanent camps or lodges as well as organized fishing tours you can book online.
Best Taimen Fishing Spots
Reaching the remote waters that Siberian Taimen prefer is a quest in and of itself. These fish favor cool, clear pools with little disturbance. It’s no surprise, then, that you’ll need to head far beyond any city limits to find them. But the journey will be more than worthwhile.
The Delgermörön, Mongolia
This river in northern Mongolia is premier Taimen fishing territory. They aren’t the only ones to take refuge here, as many Buddhist monks found their way into the same mountains during Stalin’s regime in the neighboring Soviet Union. It’s rather fitting, then, that the Ulaan Taiga Bio Reserve has been dubbed a temple for Taimen.
To reach these sacred waters, you’ll ascend the mountains by camel or horseback, before rafting up hundreds of miles. If you don’t have the time to lose yourself in Mongolia’s wilderness for several weeks, consider fishing downriver where you can reach the Delgermörön by car.
A great deal of care goes into protecting the local Taimen, so you can expect to release any of these fish you catch. And perhaps that’s just as well. Bringing home a trophy will pale in comparison to such a spiritual experience.
Onon River, Mongolia
A 6-hour drive from the capital city of Ulaanbaatar, you can fish for Taimen in the Onon River. This particular location will delight historic fanatics as much as anglers, for these banks were home to Genghis Khan in his childhood. About halfway there, the paved road gives way to vast, undeveloped plains, and you’ll find yourself drifting through the world’s most sparsely populated country.
There are permanent fishing camps stationed along the river where you’ll meet other anglers just as devout as yourself. Spending the night in a yurt with no electricity is sure to cut any remaining ties you have to the outside world, one final purge before devoting yourself exclusively to the Taimen hunt!
Eg and Üür Rivers, Mongolia
The Eg and Üür Rivers in north-central Mongolia present yet another unforgettable Taimen fishing experience. Locals claim that you can hook a 50″ Taimen on a dry fly in these waters every week. While we can’t promise that, it’s fair to say that you can expect clear waters and unobstructed riverbanks – the stuff that most fly fishermen only dream of!
Heavy rainfall may turn the water murky from time to time, but it’s quick to clear up again, and there’s no reason not to cast for Taimen in the meantime. Just be prepared to swap out your flies. As in other locations, Taimen fishing in the Eg and Üür Rivers is limited to catch and release.
Tugur River, Russia
Just when you thought Taimen fishing couldn’t sound any more divine, we saved the best for last. Far in the east of Russia awaits the Tugur River, an ancient and legendary fishing ground. It presents your greatest challenge yet – and, perhaps, your greatest reward.
Whereas the banks of Mongolia’s Eg and Üür lend themselves to wading, many sections of the Tugur are riddled with trees and dense foliage. This makes it much harder to navigate, but the effort may lead you to the world’s largest Hucho Taimen. Multiple IGFA records for the species come from right here, including the current all-tackle record of 115 pounds.
How to Fish for Taimen
You may have the impression that Taimen are docile creatures, seeing as they once shared hallowed grounds with Mongolia’s Buddhist monks. But one look at these fish reveals they’re predators.
Their wide mouths are capable of gobbling anything from salmon to birds and small mammals – including bats and, allegedly, beavers. On top of being ferocious feeders, Taimen occasionally hunt in packs, which is why they also go by the name “river wolves”. Needless to say, your inner demons won’t be the only beasts that need conquering on this path to enlightenment.
While Taimen are relatively hard-fighting fish, locating them in the vast rivers of Russia and Mongolia is like finding a needle in a haystack. The hunt can take days, if not weeks, so embrace the opportunity to connect with nature while you wait. In the beauty of this wilderness, it’s a philosophical experience, to be sure.
Despite the substantial size and appetite of these fish, fly fishing is the preferred method for targeting them. Large streamers are the go-to choice, typically as long as one foot, but you can also target Taimen using dry flies. Given how vast the rivers are, some anglers opt for spey casting in order to cover more water. You can also catch Taimen on medium-heavy spinning gear if that’s your method of choice.
Whatever your plan of attack, count on Taimen’s keen senses. In clear water, they’ll zero in on your fly and chase it over long distances. In murky water, they pick up on vibrations, so choose lures that make a ruckus. If you don’t manage to hook your fish on the first try, be sure to cast again, since your target is likely to bite multiple times out of frustration.
To minimize damage to the fish, use barbless hooks and rubber nets when landing them.
Taimen Fishing Gear & Bait
Your gear selection doesn’t need to be highly specialized when targeting Taimen, just be sure to match the size and strength of these fish. If you plan on using a single-hand or switch rod, pack an 8–10 weight. Alternatively, a 9–11 wt rod will do for spey fishing.
Your reel should have a considerable drag system and needs to hold up to 200 yards of backing. A weight-forward floating line will do in most cases, though you may find yourself fishing in conditions where it makes sense to swap that out for a multi-tip sinking line. You should opt for a specialty fly line designed for bigger fish such as Pike or Musky. Lastly, experienced Taimen anglers recommend a 10′, 0X tapered leader.
With a sturdy setup ready to go, it’s time to consider your fly selection. They say no fly is too big for these fish, but after days or weeks of casting for them, you may find that some flies are too heavy for you.
The smallest flies you can expect to get away with are gurglers with 6–8 inches of synthetic hair. From there, your dry fly selection will quickly escalate to mice and poppers almost 20 inches in size. It’s also popular to target Taimen using giant streamers such as game changers, pole dancers, t-bones, and deceivers in white, tan, or black.
For spin fishing, use a 7–9′ medium-heavy rod paired with a reel capable of holding at least 200 yards of 30–50 lb braided line. Add a fluorocarbon leader to reduce visibility, having in mind that these fish have a strong bite. The best lures are large crankbaits, jerkbaits, and spoons, as anglers rarely use natural bait when fishing for Taimen.
When to Catch Taimen
If you’re looking to catch this bucket-list fish in Mongolia, you should plan your trip during the legal fishing season from June 15–November 1. The front end of this window follows on the heels of Taimen’s spawning season, when they’re ready to feed aggressively. They gorge themselves again in late fall, before the waters begin to freeze, making the close of the season another great time to target them.
On Russia’s Tugur River, Taimen fishing is roughly divided into summer and fall seasons. The bite is hot beginning in late June and early July, followed by a lull toward the end of summer. Come September, however, the action is back in full swing and the Taimen are bigger than ever as they bulk up before winter.
Taimen Fishing: Simply Out of This World
Fly fishing is always meditative. But you’ll find that a trip through Mongolia’s mountains or the far east of Russia truly elevates that experience. Only the most devoted anglers make this journey, much like the hardiest climbers who ascend Mount Everest.
If the river gods smile upon you, there may be an epic catch at the end. If not, then perhaps next time. But until then, you can appreciate Taimen fishing for what it is: angling bliss.
Have you ever hit the far corners of the earth in search of this elusive fish? How did you get on? We’d love to hear your stories in the comments below!
The post How To Go Taimen Fishing: The Complete Guide appeared first on FishingBooker Blog.
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