Mongolia Taimen

Fly Fishing Trip and Lodge Details:

From private ger camps located in the Mongolian wilderness, discerning clients have access to nearly two hundred miles of blue ribbon fly-fishing water. In operation since 1993 and fly-fishing adventures since 1999, trips are fly-fishing only with a strict catch and release policy. Aire oar boats with full house casting frames are used and the fishing is a combination of drift and wade. The international fly-fishing guides are some of the best professionals in the business.

MRFF are an internationally recognized conservation leader. By fishing with them, you will be supporting and investing in local communities and Taimen conservation. For more than a decade, they have been working with local communities to protect Mongolia's free flowing rivers and wild fish. And, over the years, have supported a host of community development, education and regulatory initiatives. In 2007, they launched an exciting new conservation partnership with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

Operating only during late August and September, when fly-fishing in Mongolia is guaranteed to be at its best, the trips include six days on the river and two evenings in Ulan Bator.

This is a "fly-in/fly-out" and "no shuttle" operation. You will not spend time driving up and down the creek. Every day you fish a new stretch of river while your bags are shuttled overland. Every evening you stay in one of six pre-established and very comfortable streamside ger camps, complete with attentive staff, great food, hot showers, linens, and cozy wood burning stoves.

You wake up in the morning, eat breakfast, get into a boat and start fishing right where you left off the evening before. While your luggage and other personal items are transported overland, you're fishing a fresh stretch of water. In the evening when you float into the next ger camp, the fires are lit, our camp staff has dinner prepared, and your luggage is waiting in your fully outfitted ger.

The Fishing:

The fishery is exceptionally healthy, with great water quality, species diversity and riparian habitat. The river supports robust populations of wild Taimen (the world's largest salmonid), trout, grayling and lenok. The stream's most famous residents are the gigantic Taimen (Hucho taimen). Taimen have bragging rights as the world's largest member of the Salmonidae family. In Mongolia, Taimen will typically average 80 - 100 cm (over three feet) and MRFF regularly encounter monsters that approach 150 cm (fifty inches or more). Watching a forty-inch fish explode out of a gin-clear stream to take your dry fly is truly a life altering experience! The streams also produce phenomenal numbers of trout and lenok. The lenok (Brachymystax lenok) are awesome fun. They are another endemic distinguished from the trout by their bright red sides and slightly down-turned mouth. Lenok are found throughout Mongolia. The Amur trout (Brachymystax savinovi) is a species unknown to most fly anglers. It is a beautiful, thick bodied fish distinguished by a golden brown body accented with large black spots. The trout's aggressive attitude reminds most folks of big browns. This spectacular fish commonly measures well over 55 cm (twenty-two inches), making them a fantastic challenge on a light fly rod. (Bring on the hoppers!) In Mongolia, this species is found only on MRFF streams.

Season information:

Mid-June to early October. As you can see from the following schedule, dates fill fast, especially from past anglers. Don't wait, contact us now to hold space for you and your group. Yes, the dates are correct for each year, just the day of the week will be different from one year to the next. (Updated May 6, 2015).

2015 Dates:
June 13-23, FM 1, full
June 14-26, Expedition 1, full
June 23-July 3, FM 2, full
June 24-July 6, Expedition 2, 2 rods available
July 3-13, FM 3, 5 rods available
July 4-16, Expedition 3, 4 rods available
July 12-21, FM 3a, full
August 8-18, FM 4, 3 rods available
August 9-21 Expedition 4, 4 rods available
August 18-28, FM 5, 2 rods available
August 19-31, Expedition, 4 rods available
August 28-September 7, FM 6, full
August 29-September 10, Expedition 6, 4 rods available
September 2-10, Upper River 1, full
September 7-17, FM 7, full
September 8-20, Expedition 7, 4 rods available
September 8-18, Lower River 2, full
September 16-24, Upper River 3, full
September 17-27, FM 8, 4 rods available
September 22-October 2, Lower River 4, full
September 30-October 8, Upper River 5, full
October 6-15, Lower River 6, 4 rods available

2016 Dates:
June 13-23, Canyons 1, 7 rods available
June 14-26, Expedition 1, 1 rod available
June 23-July 3, Canyons 2, 8 rods available
June 24-July 6, Expedition 2, 4 rods available
July 3-13, Canyons 3, 8 rods available
July 4-16, Expedition 3, 4 rods available
August 8-18, Canyons 4, sorry, full
August 9-21 Expedition 4, 4 rods available
August 18-28, Canyons 5, sorry, full
August 19-31, Expedition 5, 4 rods available
August 28-September 7, Canyons 6, 8 rods available
August 29-September 10, Expedition 6, 4 rods available
September 2-10, Upper River 1, call now
September 7-17, Canyons 7, 8 rods available
September 8-20, Expedition 7, 4 rods available
September 8-18, Lower River 2, call now
September 16-24, Upper River 3, call now
September 17-27, Canyons 8, 6 rods available
September 22-October 2, Lower River 4, call now
September 30-October 8, Upper River 5, call now
October 6-15, Lower River 6, call now

Rates:

US$ 5,950, per person, sharing. Includes all meals, beer, wine and soft drinks on the river, guides, flies, accommodations in UB and camp, fishing permits, airport transfers and other transportation while in country. Rates subject to change. (Rates are for the 2015 and 2016 season).

Accommodations and capacity:

On the river, guests are accommodated in traditional Mongolian gers (yurts). These spacious, dome shaped structures are constructed with a wooden frame insulated by layers of felt and weatherproof canvas. Inside, each ger is the size of a large bedroom. On the lower river trip, some evenings are in comfortable tented camps. They are completed with table and chairs, a cozy wood-burning stove, and two beds with linens and plenty of blankets. There is a large, central ger for meals and socializing. Bathroom facilities are ex-suite, the showers are hot, and the stars seem close enough to touch. Camp capacity is limited to 8 guests.

Includes:

As specified above. This is a 9 day/8 night trip. The expedition includes two evenings in Ulan Bator (arrival/departure) and six days/nights on the river.

Excludes:

Airfare to Ulan Bator and meals and accommodation en route. Meals in Ulan Bator. Gratuities, telephone calls, items of a personal nature, etc.

Location:

Ulan Bator, Mongolia

How to get there:

Scheduled flights to Ulan Bator (ULN), and local airport pickup included within the package price. Travel Adventures will be happy to assist with all of your travel arrangements to any of our destinations, including air, extended stays, sightseeing tours, other "stops in route", shuttles, airport transfers, rental cars, etc.

Owner and Host:

Mark Johnstad

Travel Adventures will be happy to assist with all of your travel arrangements
to any of our destinations, including air, extended stays, sightseeing tours, special
requests, other "stops in route", shuttles, airport transfers, rental cars, etc.
We are "The Angler's Concierge".