Mongolia

Mongolia The birthplace of taimen fly fishing; the Vermillion’s Camp on Mongolia’s Eg River. Photo: Jeff Vermillion

Mongolia is a wild, unspoiled land reminiscent of Montana and the American West before settlement. Anglers and adventurers alike will find some of the world’s largest remaining tracts of pristine wilderness, clear, freeflowing rivers and some of the largest freshwater gamefish on earth. Mongolia offers two distinct fisheries: The first is an underutilized, world-class trout fishery focusing on lenok (Asian trout) and grayling. The second includes the world’s largest salmonid, the taimen—a vicious, surface-oriented predator known for its explosive dry fly takes. While taimen average 28 to 30 inches, anglers have landed fish in excess of 60 inches and encountered some estimated at over 100 pounds!

Taimen Jetboat Camps Located in the north central portion of Mongolia, the Vermillion’s original taimen camps offer anglers access to miles of prolific fly water from a comfortable home base. Their two river camps are well appointed with comfortable 18-foot gers (traditional Mongolian tents) complete with wood stoves, electricity, tables, chairs and wood floors. Additionally, all camps have hot showers, translators well versed in Mongolian culture and exceptional guides who will help you stalk the huge taimen that call these rivers home. Rate: $6,500 plus $330 fishing license per person for a 9 night/6 day package

Eg River’s Emt Lodge NEW The vast Eg River system has long been Mongolia’s most famous taimen fishery, but today, with the help of Fly Shop Mongolia, we are proud to debut a diverse new program that will show guests the very best mixed trout and taimen program the region has to offer. Week-long packages will incorporate stays at their main riverside lodge as well as an out-camp located two hours upstream in a very productive and seldom-fished reach of the Eg River. Guests will also have access to two world-class lenok and grayling systems: The intimate and ultra-productive Marmot system and the mid-sized Tavt River which is home to both trout and taimen. While catching trophy taimen is always a somewhat unpredictable proposition, the trout fishing with dry flies offered by this program is so good that every trip is a guaranteed success. Add in a visit to a nomadic family and other cultural elements and you will see why this is a top pick for hardened anglers and travel companions alike. Rate: $6,000 for a 9 night/6 day fishing package

Wilderness Float Trips For the game-traveling angler, a float trip through the wilds of outer Mongolia is one of the ultimate adventures. Rich with native culture, stunning scenery, spectacular lenok trout and grayling fishing and numerous opportunities to hook the exotic and monstrous river taimen, these luxurious wilderness float trips are unlike any other. After a full day of floating and fishing through pristine and dramatic landscapes, you will arrive at a fully set up camp. Camps are complete with a large dining tent, shower tent, multiple outhouse tents, and either traditional Mongolian gers (Mongolian tents) with wood stoves or expedition-style tents with cots and bedding. For those that enjoy peaceful, solitary river time, this is one of the ultimate destinations. Rate: $6,450 per person for a 9 night/6 day package

The Yenisei River is the world’s fifth-longest system and the largest river feeding into the Arctic Ocean. While it has many headwaters, the Tengis and Shishged systems in the remote reaches of northern Mongolia’s Khuvsgul Province are unique and home to some of the world’s largest taimen. This program, designed by the local experts at Fly Shop Mongolia is for true adventure anglers who want to experience Mongolia on its own terms. Guests will experience a long and somewhat arduous off-road overland transfer through a range of spectacular landscapes one direction, and an air charter flight to or from Moron in the other direction. Once the Shishged is reached, guests will fish two distinct and remarkable systems with the help of local and international guides. Upon arrival, guests will jet boat several hours up the scenic mid-sized Tengis system where they will spend two to three nights at a comfortable tent camp fishing two-plus days for taimen, lenok, and grayling. Then they will motor downstream to the main Shishged camp where they will sleep in spacious gers. The main camp has a spectacular location and their home pool is arguably the best trophy taimen pool on the river. The Shishged is a big, muscular, fast-flowing river that offers unparalleled trout fishing as well as some of the thickest taimen anywhere. This is a great river for Spey anglers and is unique among Mongolia programs in that all fishing is done while wading. For those seeking authentic adventure travel and the challenge of wading truly wild rivers, this is the program. Rate: $6950 for a 10 night/6 ½ day fishing package One of the world’s most exotic angling adventures

Fly Water Travel’s Brian Gies with a hard-earned trophy taimen from the rugged Shishged River. Photo: Ken Morrish