Fish Mongolia Classic Canyon Adventure

For the traveling angler, a float trip through the wilds of outer Mongolia is a truly spectacular angling adventure. Rich with native culture, stunning scenery, spectacular trout and grayling fishing, and numerous opportunities to hook taimen (the world’s largest salmonid), these luxurious wilderness float trips are unlike any other. After a full day of floating and fishing through some of the most pristine and dramatic landscapes imaginable, you will arrive at a fully set up camp complete with a large dining tent, shower tent, multiple outhouse tents, and traditional Mongolian ger’s with wood stoves, cots, and bedding. For those that enjoy the pace and solitude of true river-time, this is one of the ultimate adventures.

These downriver expeditions will have guests fishing a new section of river each day. Every two guests will fish with fish with an experienced, professional, English-speaking guide. Guides may be Mongolian, Chilean, American or from elsewhere and all are selected for their ability to connect with guests and facilitate the best possible experience on the water. Guests will fish from inflatable drift boats and, at times, rafts with fishing frames. Most of the fishing will be done from the boats as the adventure covers roughly 100 miles of pristine river. Wade fishing is possible, but it is most often engaged in around camp or at a few key runs throughout the day. 

 Some guests fish exclusively for taimen, and others select the trip to fish exclusively for grayling and lenok (which we refer to collectively as “trout”). Others take advantage of both venues. We recommend that folks spend at least a few hours each day targeting trout because the fishing tends to be exceptional. When fishing taimen, guests will fish 8-9 weight rods with floating lines and big flies. There is a lot of casting, and a lot of stripping and the willingness of the taimen varies from day to day and week to week. They are present in all sizes, but they are fickle and moody, and it is hard to predict how many will be encountered on any given trip. Trout fishing tends to be very consistent with lots of action if the river is in good shape. The trout fishing is straightforward 5-6 weight fishing with dries and dry, dropper set-ups but swinging small streamers, skating, and fishing soft hackles are all productive methods. Guests tend to get into lots of fish in the 10-to 20-inch class and some lenok in the 20+inch class will likely be encountered.  

With stealthy drift boats and clear water, anglers commonly sight cast to both taimen and trout. They sometimes see frenzied taimen feeding behavior with huge taimen slamming game fish onto the shore or a two-foot trout sprinting across the river surface in absolute terror as a giant taimen charges it like a shark.  

Fishing for taimen is highly addictive. They are strong, ferocious, apex predators. While the rivers holds and delivers fish pushing sixty inches, most fish landed measure between 33 and 45 inches. The biggest fish landed each season typically measures in the mid fifty-inch class.  You will likely see several enormous fish during your stay and can typically expect several taimen shots a day. However, taimen fishing is not easy. Taimen don’t require Herculean casting skills, but may demand tremendous dedication and patience. Taimen are moody and difficult to land and often spit the fly late in the game. Come prepared for a wonderful angling challenge, celebrate every fish caught and you’ll have the trip of a lifetime. 

Trout fishing in Mongolia is possibly the most overlooked fishery in the world. The main catch is the Mongolian lenok that average an impressive 16"-22”, and grayling. These fish are plentiful and respond very well to big bushy dry flies. On an average week, guests should anticipate landing more than twenty fish a day. In addition to these two species, guests might encounter Amur trout. These thick-bodied, golden fish are found only in a few Mongolian streams. Amur trout behave much like big brown. The average size is 18"–22" with some reaching 25" or more. 

The traditional ger camps are one of the highlights of this multi-day down-river adventure. A ger is essentially a canvas yurt and the most common form of shelter for thousands of Mongolian nomadic herders. Each ger is complete with a wood stove, cots, linens, and blankets and even though the floor of the ger is dirt, they have colorful wool rugs for added comfort. On cold mornings, the designated campfire starter will come into each ger just before it is time to get up to start a fire in the stove. Each camp also has a dining tent, a shower tent, and multiple tents with pit toilets. Although these trips have to be considered a form of camping, the touches like carpets, warm showers, candle-lit dinners with Chilean wines, and great service, make it a very civil experience. 

There are no generators or stereos in camp and the only lights are the glow of candles, wood stoves, and the night stars. Mongolians continue to make the most of their unfettered landscape, still following a unique nomadic, horse-riding lifestyle with deep, Tibetan Buddhist roots and a serious respect for nature. Mongolian culture venerates hospitality, and the camp staff is no exception. They are wonderful, hard-working, fun, and highly attentive folks. You’ll have a great time getting to know them and they will make your visit memorable. 

The food is fresh, diverse and very well suited to Western tastes. The coffee is usually hot, the beer cold and the wine very palatable! The resident Buryat people are famous for their homemade bread, butter and blueberry jam. Lunches are served stream side. 

Non-angling activities include horseback riding and hiking. With advance notice, it’s possible to arrange for guided horseback riding and hiking between camps. Non-angling partners also often enjoy the downstream float trips. Birding is quite popular, with several unique species including the white-naped crane and fish eagles.

Day 1: Arrive Ulaanbaatar (known as "UB"), Mongolia. A Nomadic Journeys driver and guide will meet you at the airport and deliver you to the hotel. Guests are accommodated at a comfortable hotel located in the city center. Anglers always have their own hotel room in UB unless traveling with a spouse, or if they prefer to share. The guide will continue to be at your service during your stay in Ulaanbaatar. 

Day 2: Transfer back to the airport (30 to 40 minutes) to check in for the one and a half hour domestic flight to Muron (either a Saab 340 or Boeing 737). In Muron, you will be met by Fish Mongolia’s local representative, and a member of the guide team, who will transfer you approximately eight hours by Toyota land-cruiser to the first camp. Once you arrive you will be met by the rest of the team, get a brief overview of the camp, and get ready for your week on the river. 

Day 3 to 9: Seven full days of floating and fishing. Each evening you will arrive at a fully set up camp.

Day 10: Drive out to Muron for the return flight to Ulaanbaatar.

Day 11: Fly home.

2025 Rate: $7,950 per person

Included: Two nights hotel in Ulaanbaatar, airport transfers, transfers to/from the river, fishing permits, guide services, accommodations and meals including soft drinks, beer, wine and classic Mongolian vodka at camp, $500 Conservation fee

Not Included: International airfare, meals and drinks in Ulaanbaatar, and gratuities

Species: Taimen, lenok, grayling 

Capacity: 6 anglers 

Who is best suited to this destination?
Mongolia is a great destination for adventurous anglers and non-anglers alike. The landscape, scenery, and cultural experiences make this a trip that is well beyond a mere fishing expedition. Anglers can target taimen, the largest member of the salmonid family. Taimen are aggressive predators that prey on everything from smaller fish to squirrels. But it’s not just a big fish destination: the trout fishing for lenok and grayling can be exceptional as well, and many guests come to Mongolia just for the trout fishing. Anglers of all skill levels will have an enjoyable time exploring the Mongolian wilderness.  

Where is the river?
Fish Mongolia operates on one of western Mongolia’s most awe-inspiring trout and Taimen rivers. They don’t broadcast the river details to preserve the relative exclusivity of the experience. 

How do I get there? 
Guests fly to Ulaanbaatar (airport code: UBN). There are many flight options to connect to Ulaanbaatar via Seoul, Istanbul, Japan, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, or Beijing. Guests will travel from Ulaanbaatar via a short domestic flight, followed by several hours overland in Land Cruisers to get to the upper camp on the river.  

When should I go?
The taimen fishing season in Mongolia starts June 15, through the end of October. June through August is the best time with Fish Mongolia; September to October is the peak season with Mongolia River Outfitters.  

How will I fish?
Taimen fishing is typically done with single handed 8-9 weight rods. Most often, a floating line is all that is needed as taimen are aggressive feeders and often attack surface flies or streamers fished at or just below the surface. It’s a good idea to have a sink-tip line along as well, in case water levels rise or the fish hunker down in deeper holes. Switch rods can be a great tool as well, and anglers who enjoy fishing two-handed rods have daily opportunities to get out of the boats and swing some flies as well.  

The trout fishing for lenok and grayling is simple and straightforward, with a 5-6 weight rod and floating line. Dry fly fishing is the norm, while dry-dropper setups or small streamers can also be very effective.  

Is there wade fishing?
This is predominantly a float trip, covering 10-12 river miles every day. It is often most effective to fish from the boats and cover as much water as possible. That said, this river is very wade-friendly, and for guests who like to wade they are welcome to get out and wade productive stretches of river every day.  

Where will I fish?
You will float around 100 miles of pristine freestone river flowing out of the Altai Mountains in western Mongolia. The outfitter runs two similar trips on the river. This stream is amazingly well suited for fly fishing.  The river has loads of structure.  There are several small pool/drop rapids and plenty of bumpy sections with large boulders and lots of interesting features, including riffles and pools.  The outfitter operates only during the prime season when the water is generally very clear.  However, gin clear water is not guaranteed.  Wild taimen only survive in true wilderness.  There are no dams and river flow may fluctuate substantially with the weather. When the water is clear, anglers will frequently sight cast for big fish, much like chasing tarpon on the flats.   

How long does it take to reach the fishing grounds?
Each morning, you’ll step out the door to your streamside ger, hop in the boat and be fishing in seconds. The fishing days are very long, and there’s great camp water along each of the streamside camps for those who want to wake up early and fish, or fish after dinner.  

What type(s) of fish will I catch?
Taimen from 24 inches to up to 60 inches long, with “most” taimen on this river averaging between 30-40 inches. Lenok tend to average 14-16 inches with fish over 20” hooked and landed most days. Grayling range from 6-16 inches.  

How many fish will I catch?
Catch rates for taimen will vary greatly day to day, week to week, based on river conditions, angler skill, and a bit of luck. Probably a “typical” day might be moving 2-5 taimen to the fly and landing 1-2 of these. Of course, some days you will see and move many fish; other days it might seem like there are no fish in the river. That is the mystery and allure of taimen fishing! 

The trout fishing in the summer can be very good, and anglers specifically targeting trout usually catch many, many fish all day long. We recommend that all guest spend at least few hours each targeting t grayling and lenok, as the fishing is so productive and enjoyable.  

Will I see other anglers?
Most likely not. Very seldom you might see a local nomad fishing for trout with a hand-line or even fly fishing. It is illegal for foreign anglers to fish here without a permit through Fish Mongolia but on rare occasion an unsanctioned trip might be encountered.  

What are the guides like?
The guides are outstanding, and one of the reasons so many guests return to Mongolia. Fish Mongolia uses a mix of very experienced local Mongolian guides and international professionals from Chile, New Zealand, and the US. All guides are English speaking.

What are the physical demands?
The only real physically demanding component to these trips is the long fishing days with lots of casting.  

Are there any special skills required?
Taimen fishing consists of a lot of casting with 8-9 weight rods and larger flies. That said, herculean casting is not a requirement, and even novice casters can have success. It is not technical fishing, and the guides are all great at working with anglers of all skill levels to ensure a fun and eventful trip.  

Does the outfitter provide equipment?
The outfitter provides flies and terminal tackle. Guests will want to bring their own fly rods, waders and boots, and personal effects.  

What is your favorite setup for the trip?
A 9 foot singled-handed 8- or 9- weight rod is perfect for taimen, and a light 5- to 6- weight fly rod is great for trout and grayling. Floating lines are mostly all you need, although a sink-tip suitable for 8-9 weight rod is a good thing to have just in case.  

What are the top flies?
Taimen are aggressive predators who will feed on just about anything. Many taimen flies are topwater patterns such as Gurglers, Pole Dancers, Cyclops, and large mouse patterns. Streamer flies that imitate small trout are also very effective, typically in light colors (white, gray) or dark (black, purple).  

Generic trout flies will all work, especially large attractors or terrestrials. Chubby Chernobyls,  and hopper patterns, as well as others.  Smaller wooly bugger type streamers are also productive.  

What are the options if water conditions become challenging?
This is a wild river and water conditions can be variable. Fortunately, taimen will still feed even if the river is “blown out,” so while catch rates might go down if the water comes up, sometimes the largest taimen are caught in high water conditions. Trout fishing can get challenging if the water is high and off-color, but we can still usually find a few risers. There are also some world-class hikes available from most of the camps if folks want to take a day off from fishing.  

What is a typical day like?
Guests will wake each morning to a hot cup of coffee delivered to their ger. Breakfast is usually served around 8:00 am. After breakfast you’ll pack up your bags and leave them in front of your ger for the gear boat crew to load up and move downstream for you to the next camp. You’ll meet the guides around 9:00 am, load into the boats, and start fishing right away. A shore lunch is served midday along the river. You’ll continue fishing through the afternoon, typically arriving at the next camp in the early evening. When you arrive at the next camp, the fires will be lit, your beds will be made, and cocktails and appetizers will be ready. We often dine outside in the fresh mountain air during the summer and enjoy an evening campfire before returning to your streamside ger for a cozy night’s sleep. There’s great home water at all the camps, so anyone who wants to make a few extra casts early or late in the day is free to do so. 

What is the general vibe, atmosphere and style of the camps?
The camps are very informal, laid back, and fun with plenty of snacks, beverages, and tasty food. There are a lot of staff around to make sure you have whatever you want or need. There’s a campfire most evenings, and it’s fairly common for the Mongolians to sing traditional songs and tell stories. After a week of floating down the river, everyone in camp becomes good friends! 

Is there an on-site owner, manager or other point-person at the camps?
The staff for each group on the river consists of a head guide, several other guides, a camp hostess, two cooks, and the gear boat team. If anyone has any questions or needs anything at any point during the trip, either the Head Guide or the Camp Hostess is there to assist with anything that comes up.  

Where do we eat, and what are the meals like?
Each camp has a large, spacious dining ger, which serves as a central camp meeting place as well as where most meals are served. When the weather is nice, dinner is often served outside in the fresh air. The outfitter does a nice job mixing up the dinner menu with main dishes including lamb, pork, beef and chicken all accompanied by vegetables and salads. Breakfast are hearty American style with a few local specialties thrown in to keep it interesting and delicious.  

What is the alcohol policy?
The outfitter provides all beer, wine, and local Mongolian vodka on the river, as well as sodas and potable water. If you want to drink something other than beer, wine, or vodka, you are welcome to bring some in from Duty Free or purchase in Ulaanbaatar.  

How is tipping handled?
While tips are always at the discretion of guests, a rough guideline is 10% of the package price.  

Guests can deliver their gratuities to the head guide at the end of the trip, and the head guide will distribute it amongst the many staff.  

Where do we stay, and what are the accommodations like?
Much like an African tented safari, the ger camps are rustic but very comfortable. Each campsite along the river is uniquely peaceful, designed to reflect Mongolian traditions and integrate with the country’s natural surroundings.  They are complete with cook tent, hot showers, toilet facilities, and gers for eating and sleeping.  There are no generators or stereos, only the sounds of the trees and the river, the lights of candles and stoves, and the sparkling night stars.    

With their wooden lattice frames, wood burning stoves and insulating felt walls, sleeping in a cozy Mongolian ger is a great experience. It’s much like having a spacious streamside hotel room. Each accommodates two guests and is outfitted with simple table and chairs, wool carpets, two beds with linens, and extra blankets.  On cool mornings, one of the camp staff will enter at your request and light the stove before sunrise… a great way to start the day!  

Hot shower facilities are located in specially designed gers or large tents.  Toilets facilities are set up in spacious tents privately situated a short walk from the camps.  Both facilities are quite comfortable and private. 

Mongolian culture venerates hospitality, and the camp staff is no exception.  They are wonderful, hard-working, fun, and highly attentive folks. You’ll have a great time getting to know them and they will make your visit remarkable. 

Is there internet and/or cell service?
No. The camps are all totally off the grid. No electricity either, so most guests bring portable battery packs for recharging cameras, devices, etc.  

Are there other activities?
There are some wonderful hikes available from each of the camps.  

Are there any other expenses?
No, just gratuities and meals in Ulaanbaatar.  

Do I need a visa?
US citizens and many other nationalities do not require a visa for entry to Mongolia.  Please check with your local consulate as Visa requirements do change; for those requiring a Visa there is a simple online e-visa application process:  https://evisa.mn/main. 

Most passengers transiting through large airport hubs (Incheon-Seoul, Istanbul, Narita-Tokyo, Frankfurt-Germany) do not need a visa unless you plan to leave the airport. If you need a visa for traveling through these countries, please be sure to secure a double entry visa prior to your trip. 

Are there any health concerns, dangers or annoyances?
There are no specific health concerns. 

We recommend that guests always consult with the U.S. Department of State and the Center for Disease Control websites for general travel information and guidelines.