Mongolia - Eg Ur Taimen Camp
Mongolia offers the best opportunity to catch taimen anywhere in the world. Historically, taimen have one of the largest ranges of any of the salmonids with their distribution stretching from Bavaria to the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia. However, due to human pressures, healthy populations of this magnificent fish only remain in pristine sections of Russia and Mongolia.
Taimen are a fierce predator that Mongolians call the “river wolf.” If safe from excessive human pressure, taimen live to a ripe old age of 50 years. In the rivers we fish, taimen reach weights of 75 pounds and lengths exceeding 60 inches. These larger fish, which are estimated to be over 50 years old, are caught on a regular basis by our anglers. Due to our strict catch-and-release policy, all of these magnificent giants are released unharmed to the river where they will continue to terrorize local rodent and fish populations. Consequently, in over nine seasons, our catch rates have remained consistent with both the size and number of fish remaining very strong.
Mongolia Fishing
Taimen are a remarkable game fish. Their strike will take your breath away. Picture yourself casting a mouse fly across a wonderful riffle. As your fly skitters across the surface, you can feel yourself leaning into the cast in anticipation of the impending strike. Then, it happens. The water erupts with a colossal head and mouth that demolishes your fly. Sometimes, anglers have to watch for agonizing seconds as the taimen chases the fly across the surface, slashing at the fly while anglers struggle not to strike. As Frontiers’ Mollie Fitzgerald once said, “it is a take to travel for!” Once the fish is hooked, it can either retreat to its lair or, more often, it will jump out of the water several times. In fact, 2005's giant, which measured 58 inches, cleared the water seven times in front of our stunned anglers. Whichever way it decides to fight, the fish you catch in Mongolia will undoubtedly be the largest one you will ever land on a dry fly in freshwater.
Mongolian rivers are also inhabited by the Asian trout, lenok. Lenok are reputedly the oldest trout species in the world and average between 16 and 30 inches. Due to the presence of taimen, lenok tend to inhabit the shallow riffles and flats near shore, where they gorge themselves on grasshoppers, crickets, and insect hatches. Once hooked, anglers will discover another great sport fish that has been largely ignored due its remote geographic location. We recommend that our fishermen take some time out of their days on the river to focus on lenok. If you do catch a lenok, don’t be surprised if your guide asks you to let the fish linger over the deeper parts of the pool. Taimen love to eat lenok. Unintentionally, our fishermen catch taimen each year on a lenok. In short, lenok sometimes feel like a bonefish stuck on a flat filled with sharks.
We keep our programs small to ensure an overabundance of fishable water for each guest and to remain flexible. Fishing is a combination of Atlantic salmon-style drops from the boat and wading. The rivers around the camps are a fly fisherman's dream, with moderate flow, easy wading, and predictable banks. The guide services are based on one American guide to two anglers and each day can be custom-tailored to provide the kind of fishing desired.
Mongolia Fishing Packages and Details
Accomodations
Our camps in Mongolia are designed to provide an unrivalled level of service and comfort without sacrificing the feel of Mongolian culture. Each camp is strategically located to provide clients with an excess of fishing water and brilliant views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. 
Cuisine at the camps is a variety of American- and Mongolia-style dishes prepared by our professional chefs. Each camp consists of a lodge with a large dining room and sitting area, kitchen and staff quarters. Our bathhouse includes shower facilities with plenty of hot water, good water pressure, and a wash area with sinks, mirrors and 110-volt electricity. While at camp, fishermen stay in well-furnished gers. Each ger is 18 feet in diameter and 9 feet high. These spacious, circular tents are equipped with 110-volt electricity, a wood stove, wood floors, hot water, wide beds, a table, chairs, and plenty of room to store and organize fishing gear.
How to get there
The fishing camps are accessed by helicopter from Ulaanbaatar with direct service from Seoul, Beijing, Osaka and Moscow.
Length of Stay
In an effort to shorten the trip to Mongolia, we have switched our changeover day to Monday instead of Thursday. Under the new schedule, fishermen depart the United States on Friday evening and arrive (due to the Dateline) in Ulaanbaatar on Sunday. After an over night in Ulaanbaatar, anglers fly to camp on Monday morning and begin fishing in the afternoon. Fishermen return to Ulaanbaatar the following Monday morning, catching flights back to the U.S. or Canada on Tuesday, usually arriving home on the same day. This schedule allows fishermen to spend only six weekdays away from home while still providing a full week at the fishing camps.
Capacity
The capacity at Eg Ur Taimen Camp is 8 anglers.
Other Activities
An upland bird shooting option is available in September and October. Cost will be determined on a per-bird basis.
Rates
For current rates please fill out the form to the right or contact us by phone (403) 271-1016 or by e-mail.
Inclusions
Two nights hotel accommodations with breakfast; transfers round-trip helicopter flight to the Camps from Ulaanbaatar; accommodations based on double occupancy at the fishing area; all meals at the fishing camp including beer and wine; fly patterns; guide services based on one American guide/two anglers and an English-speaking camp operator.
Exclusions
International airfare to and from Ulaanbaatar; visa processing; gratuities to camp staff, guides and hotel personnel; baggage handling or overweight charges; personal items; alcoholic beverages; telephone calls; laundry; room service; taimen fishing stamp ($100); fishing equipment/tackle; and airport departure taxes.
Deposits
A 50% deposit is required within 10 days of making a reservation to secure a fishing confirmation. Deposits will be nonrefundable. Final payment is due 90 days prior to departure. At this point, participants are responsible for the total land costs and no refund will be made unless a replacement is found. There is no refund for any unused portion of the land package. Trip cancellation insurance will be offered to each registrant. Receipt of deposit and/or final payment is acknowledgment that registrant has read and accepts cancellation/refund and responsibility clauses.
Trip Dates
- » September 22 - 29, 2008 (limited to 8 anglers). - FULL
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Special Notes
If you are interested in going to Mongolia at times other than the above listed weeks, let us know and we can put together a package for you.
For package pricing please fill out the form to the right or contact us by phone (403) 271-1016 or by e-mail.
