Fly Fishing Mongolia
Where to go Fly Fishing in Mongolia
Three major river basins provide the best fishing opportunities in Mongolia. The Selenge River, Onon River, and Shishgid Rivers are the largest basins where visiting anglers can find grayling, lenok, and world class taimen fishing. Each of these rivers and their tributaries offer different experiences throughout the year and tend to peak at different times. Different species of lenok and grayling can be found in these different rivers. Understanding the time of year and ideal conditions when visiting Mongolia is critical to maximizing your time on the water.
Fishing the Selenge River in Mongolia​
The Selenge River is created by the Murun and Chuluut Rivers of Northern and Central Mongolia. These rivers begin in the Khangai Mountains and flow across the Mongolian Steppe. The Selenge reaches its terminus in Siberia where it flows into Lake Baikal. The larger Selenge River is home to some of the largest individual taimen in the country. These apex predators find refuge in the rural and more secluded sections of river. The big water is intimidating for many anglers as long casts are a must in order to get down to where the big taimen live. While the large waters of the Selenge may yield larger taimen at times, the river is typically not fishable until September when the water lowers and clears. The two major tributaries of the Selenge, the Murun and Chuluut Rivers offer anglers better opportunities throughout the year.​
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Fishing the Chuluut River
The Chuluut River of Central Mongolia winds through long canyons as it flows eastward to its confluence with the Selenge. The steep canyons thwart many anglers and provide shelter for the resident taimen, lenok and grayling. Arctic Grayling and Sharp Snouted Lenok are common in the Chuluut. While grayling feed predominately on small insects, the lenok will indulge in larger dry flies, big streamers, and even small mouse patterns. The taimen of the Chuluut River lounge in the deeper pools and runs waiting for an easy meal. The Chuluut can be the most friendly river for visiting anglers to target large taimen as the water levels remain lower and clear for most of the fishing season. As the Chuluut dethaws from the long winter, the warmer days of May offer the first opportunity for anglers to fish the Chuluut. This late spring bite will last until the latter part of May when a brief period of snow melt runoff causes the water to rise. By mid June, the Chuluut is once again friendly to fish. The dry region which the river flows through keeps these favorable conditions through the fall months. Accessibility can be the only limiting factor on the Chuluut which can hinder many trying to approach the river on foot or by vehicle. ​
Fishing the Murun River
The Delger Murun is the northernmost tributary of the Selenge. The river begins just northwest of the small town of Murun where it temporarily forms the border between Russia and Mongolia. Like the Chuluut, the Murun River is home to Sharp Snouted Lenok, Arctic Grayling, and trophy sized Taimen. The Murun flows through higher elevation boreal forests and is much more secluded than many of the other fisheries in the country. The river becomes fishable when the high waters subside in July. The conditions continue to improve through August and September when levels reach their lowest. This puts the taimen in more predictable areas improving anglers chances at the fish of a lifetime.
Fishing the Shishged River in Mongolia
The Shishged River is the northernmost river basin in Mongolia. The river begins as a drainage of Khuvsgul Lake. It travels westward for several miles before meeting the Russian border. This stretch of river is extremely secluded and sees very few anglers each year. However the river is known to be very dangerous during the months of runoff and heavier rains. The rougher rapids and logjams are a major concern for boats on the water as the river changes annually. Very late summer and early fall bring the best conditions on the Shishged with lower water and smaller chances of rain. Cold weather can move in as early as mid September bringing subfreezing temperatures to the region. Sharp Snouted Lenok, Siberian Grayling, and Siberian Taimen are the most commonly targeted species in the Shishged. Large dry flies, mouse patterns, and big streamers can catch all of these fish as they feed heavily during the brief summer.
Fishing the Onon River
Home of Genghis Khan, the Onon River flows through the northeast corner of Mongolia. The headwaters of the Onon begin in the Khentii Mountains and flow eastward to the Onon's confluence with the Amur River in Russia. The river runs fast, flat and wide for much of its length. The river becomes more conducive to anglers beginning in July and continues to improve into October. Summer rains pushing southward from Siberia can hinder the fishing at times thanks to the lake effect from nearby Lake Baikal, but high waters tend to subside within a few days.
The major difference between the Onon River and the other rivers of Mongolia is the presence of some unique fish species. Alongside Siberian Taimen and Sharp Snouted Lenok, the Onon is home to two more members of the salmonid family: the Amur Grayling and Blunt Snouted Lenok which is also referred to as the Amur Trout or Manchurian Trout. The Amur Grayling is the smallest of the Grayling species in the world and occupies many of the headwaters streams and smaller braids of the Onon River. The Blunt Snouted Lenok are much more tankier than the Sharp Snouted Lenok, and very willing to chase down a larger streamer. These lenok regularly exceed 20" with larger individuals exceeding 24" commonly. Another unique fish swimming with the lower sections of the Onon is the Amur Pike, another voracious predator that feeds on the smaller grayling, lenok, and other fishes of the river.
Blunt Snouted Lenok / Amur Trout
Sharp Snouted Lenok
Amur Grayling
The Onon River's smaller tributaries also offer a unique opportunity in the country. The small streams that meander through the Mongolian steppe also hide some sizeable Lenok and Taimen. These areas closely resemble the small prairie streams of the American west. Outstanding dry fly fishing for what seems like endless lenok and taimen exceeding 20". Hatches of caddis and mayflies regularly pop off in the late summer and fall.
Mongolian Grayling
Mongolia has the highest diversity of grayling species in the world next to Russia. Four Grayling species including the Arctic Grayling, Siberian Grayling, Amur Grayling, and the Mongolian Grayling, which is the most unique of all can be found throughout the country. The Mongolian Grayling is only found in 3 lakes and their conjoining rivers that are located in the far western edge of the country near the Kazakh border. These borderline desert lakes provide an abundance of food which allows the Mongolian Grayling to grow to tremendous proportions. They are likely the largest grayling species in the world, which prefer a piscivorous diet unique among the Grayling family.
What to Bring Fly Fishing in Mongolia
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Mongolia is the streamer fishing Mecca of the world. Whether it's the smaller Grayling, eager Lenok, or the Giant Taimen, everything in Mongolia is looking for a high protein meal to pack on some extra size. Larger woolly bugger patterns to massive articulated and tube fly patterns will catch fish. During the final days of summer and into the fall, dry fly patterns will produce plenty of fish as well. Even the large taimen have been known to pull to the surface when grasshoppers are abundant.
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The most important tool for fly anglers to bring with them are an assortment of sinking lines and leaders if they are exclusively targeting larger taimen. Getting down can be difficult and a sink tip or a full sink line can be helpful, especially in higher water. With these heavier lines, heavier rods can also make the job of casting, manipulating the line, and fighting the fish a bit easier on the angler. Slower is better when working these flies as this will help the flies stay lower in the column and remain in front of the lazier but still opportunistic taimen for longer.
Mongolian Fishing Guides
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Mongolian law requires visiting anglers to be accompanied by a guide. Group trips are quite common for those looking to get to the more rural and untouched streams of the country, but other arrangements can be made. Gunba of GB Tours arranges Mongolian fishing trips throughout the Summer and Fall months and is an expert on all of Mongolia's Rivers. Alongside his expertise on fly fishing for taimen, lenok, grayling, and pike, he enjoys teaching visitors about the geography and history of Mongolia.
