Freshwater

Why Fly Fishing in Mongolia

Mongolia offers one of the world’s most remarkable fly fishing adventures, combining remote wilderness, spectacular rivers and the opportunity to target the legendary taimen, the largest member of the salmon family. Northern and eastern Mongolia contain hundreds of miles of taimen habitat, with rivers flowing through vast grasslands, forests, canyons and largely untouched wilderness.

For anglers looking for something genuinely different, this is fishing on an expeditionary scale, where reaching the river can involve boats, and horses, and long days travelling through some of Asia’s most remote landscapes. If you’re looking for a fly fishing adventure in an extraordinary destination, then you should add Mongolia to the list. No crowds, great guides and a chance to unwind with some big fun and big fish.

What makes fly fishing in Mongolia so special

The combination of giant taimen, remote rivers and almost complete isolation is what sets Mongolia apart. Taimen, known locally as the ‘River Wolf’, are aggressive predators capable of reaching exceptional sizes and can attack large streamers, mouse patterns and other surface flies with extraordinary aggression. The fishing can involve floating long stretches of river, walking and wading through remote headwaters or sight fishing to individual fish when conditions allow.

Outside the fishing, the experience is equally compelling, with vast open landscapes, traditional ger camps, wildlife and the opportunity to encounter Mongolia’s nomadic way of life. The country’s low population density and remote fishing camps mean that anglers can spend days on the river with very few other people around, creating a genuine sense of wilderness and exploration.

Key fly fishing species in Mongolia

• Taimen – Mongolia’s ultimate game fish and the principal reason many anglers make the journey. These enormous predators are renowned for their explosive attacks, powerful fights and ability to reach exceptional sizes.
• Lenok trout – attractive, hard-fighting trout that provide excellent sport on lighter tackle and can be particularly responsive to dry flies.
• Amur trout – a sought-after species that can provide exciting sight fishing and light-tackle opportunities, with larger fish often willing to take mouse patterns.
• Grayling – abundant in many Mongolian rivers and capable of providing excellent surface-fly fishing alongside the larger taimen.
• Amur pike – aggressive predators that offer an alternative to taimen, particularly in slower water, backwaters and lower river sections.

Aardvark McLeod expertise in Mongolia

We have fished Mongolia’s rivers on multiple occasions and are well versed on all aspects of arranging a fly fishing trip here. We would certainly suggest that a Mongolia fishing holiday is about considerably more than simply catching fish, and we can also help build time into an itinerary to experience the country’s remarkable landscapes, wildlife, nomadic culture, trekking and historic sites.