Taimen Pre-Trip Information
In 1995, at the suggestion of friends leading the Mongolian Biodiversity Project, Jeff Vermillion organized a fall expedition to explore the rivers of Mongolia for trophy taimen. The results far surpassed his expectations. During the 1995 exploratory, Jeff and his Mongolian partner, Hubsgul Travel Company, discovered the Aryol and Bator rivers as prime fly fishing destinations. Unlike the taimen rivers in Siberia and other parts of Mongolia, these rivers allowed Jeff and his fishermen to stalk the banks New Zealand-style and sight fish for taimen in the 50 inch plus range. Today, Jeff and his organization have made access to this wild and remote region of Mongolia a reality for Western anglers. The operators of the Mongolian taimen fishing program have learned much based on three season's of operating experience and Jeff Vermillion's knowledge from his extensive exploratory trips. There have been many refinements made to the fishing program, but, along with outstading fishing, you will still experience a real adventure in the remote, outer reaches of Mongolia. The information which follows will help you to prepare with the knowledge and equipment appropriate for the journey.
Location: Mongolia
is located in northern Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north
and China to the south. This precarious political position and its
natural isolation - the Altay Mountains to the west and the Gobi Desert
to the south - have kept Mongolia out of the Western spotlight for the
last 70 years, and it was only in 1990 that the first Western tourists
began to trickle in. Political Overview: In 1990, Mongolia
declared its independence from Russia. This sudden liberation caused
an immediate economic collapse. Like other satellite states, Mongolia
had been completely dependent on the Soviet Union's welfare system and
unemployment soared as did the price of essential consumer goods.
For the first time, Russians began demanding hard currency for their goods.
The Mongolians were left without the means to keep their cities running.
It soon became apparent that, on its own, Mongolia did not have the infrastructure
to survive. However, the Mongolians are hardy people, well-prepared
for difficult times, and they were determined to succeed as an independent
country.
Terrain: Roughly
the size of Alaska, Mongolia has a very diverse terrain: vast semi-desert
and desert plains, extensive grasslands, unbroken larch and pine forest,
and high mountains. Jeff Vermillion's group operates three different
camps in the region. Two of the camps are located in the northern
part of the region. Here, clients can expect a predominance of larch,
birch and alder forests and lush ground vegetation. This combination
of wide fertile valleys, thick forests and surrounding mountains provide
the fly fisherman with stunning views. Climate: Mongolia, again like Montana, is a dry place with great daily and seasonal temperature ranges. During August, September and early October (the taimen fishing season) the weather in the region to be fished is typically quite good. Sunny days and cold nights are the norm; however fishermen should come prepared for potential fall weather. In 1997, clients remarked that they thought the weather would be warmer. While this can be the case, keep in mind that the camp elevation is 4200 feet and that the camps are located at about the same parallel as the Canadian border. Also remember that the later your trip, the colder it will be. In terms of fishing, the taimen seem to get more aggressive as the fall progresses. As a side note, our southern camp season begins and ends later. The weather in this area is generally drier and warmer than it is at our other two camps. Language: The official language of Mongolia is Khalka Mongol. Secondary languages include Russian and English. Language, however, will not be a concern. When you are in Ulaanbaatar, you will be escorted by an English-speaking guide. Ulaanbaatar: Ulaanbaatar is the capital
of Mongolia and home to nearly a third of its population. UB, as
it is referred to by the expatriates and tourists, is Mongolia's business
and tourism hub. However, it is still by any standard far behind
the rest of the world. Cows, goats and horses wander through its
parks. The city looks like most other big communist capitals of the
continent with the exception that outside of UB there are heavily forested
mountains and on the outskirts there are Mongolian gers scattered in every
direction. To its credit, UB feels clean, safe and friendly.
Currency: The national currency of Mongolia is the togrog. While the currency has stabilized to a certain degree, we urge clients to change only what is immediately necessary. The inflation rate in 1997 was roughly 50 percent. Keep in mind that tourist shops in Ulaanbaatar eagerly accept U.S. dollars. Flight Information: Traveling to Mongolia is not nearly as difficult as it would seem. Ulaanbaatar is just a two-hour flight from Beijing by commercial airline. We strongly suggest that you let us plan your flight itinerary and issue all tickets. This allows us to handle and expedite the visa processing as well as the internal flights (Beijing/Ulaanbaatar/Beijing). We will get the best fares and plan itineraries to meet your objectives. Please keep in mind that delays and cancellations can occur, and if we have not done your ticketing, there is very little we can do to assist you in the event of a problem. Travel Documents: A valid passport
is required for travel to China and Mongolia, plus a single-entry tourist
visa for Mongolia. You will be required to present the visas upon
entry and exit. We will arrange all necessary visas. In the
case of the Mongolian visa, tourists must have an official invitation from
Mongolia. Our Mongolian partner will send these invitations directly
to us. The visa processing cost is in addition to the land package
(approximately $200 total). Baggage Requirements: The weight restrictions per traveler varies from airline to airline. However, you should pack reasonably; it is suggested that you keep baggage weight under 50 pounds. Overweight baggage charges will be your responsibility. Please consider packing essential fishing gear in your carry on. This will avoid any inconveniences on your fishing trip. The Camp: The camps
are strategically positioned on nice stretches of river in the remote outback
of Mongolia to enable fishermen to access over 90 combined miles of river
by jetboats. These are isolated wilderness facilities with very limited
access to the outside world, enhancing the fishery and the adventure experience.
Our clients have given us glowing reports about the standard of service
and level of comfort at the camp. Each has a dining lodge, bathhouse
and shower facility; 110 volt electricity supplied by our on-site
generator is available for charging video cameras, etc. Cuisine: Food is prepared by an experienced Mongolian kitchen staff which has accompanied Jeff on past trips and clients have been quite pleased with the food. Meals include a wide range of traditional Mongolian and American dishes. After a soup course, grilled lamb, beef, chicken and fish prepared in a variety of ways may accompany side dishes of steamed carrots, beets, cabbage, potatoes and other vegetables. Mixed salads are served nightly. On the river, fishermen can enjoy a shore lunch of barbecued steak, venison or pork, and one day a week will dine on lenok, pike or grayling prepared by their American guide. If fishermen find it impossible to take a break, more simple lunches of soup, sandwiches and desserts are always available. All food is prepared with properly filtered water, so there is no need to pack bottled water. Camp Life
Insects: Mongolia is a dry country with remarkably few bugs, but mosquitos and white socks are present in some of the wetter areas. Take insect repellant just in case. The Guiding Staff: Our guiding staff at the camps consists of highly experienced guides, who are professionals and well respected in the fly-fishing world. More importantly, though, they are very personable and will do everything possible to make your fishing vacation in Mongolia a memorable one. Gratuities: Gratuities are not included
in the package cost and are left to the client's discretion. The
camp manager will be happy to give you tipping guidelines; for planning
purposes fishermen can expect a range of $350-$425 per person per week.
All tips will be pooled and distributed among the entire Mongolian and
American camp staff.
The Fishery The Fishery: The rivers in the region to be fished are a fly fisherman's dream - they are clear and easy to wade (even the banks are easy walking) and range in size from 40 - 120 feet wide. It is hard to imagine that a fish as large as the taimen can live in these waters. In fact, our largest taimen yet, a 62-inch fish, was taken on a mouse pattern in a particularly narrow stretch of river.
Boats and Equipment: Fishermen will
fish from 18-ft aluminum semi-V Lowe boats powered by 40-hp Yamaha jet
units with three fishermen to a boat. The majority of the fishing
will be wading. However, atlantic salmon-style drops are possible
for those who enjoy a break from wading. Boats are equipped with
life vests, an emergency kit and a cooler for food and drinks.
The Fish: Taimen
(Hucho hucho taimen) are an especially ferocious fish that can attain
weights of well over 100
Taimen fishing in Mongolia is a lot like fly fishing for oversized Atlantic
salmon or steelhead on a dry fly. It is similar because you are fishing
for taimen in the current and, consequently, you need to keep your fly
riding high in the water. By riffle hitching a mouse, large muddler
or streamer, fishermen can keep their fly twitching through the surface
film. Taimen have a true weakness for flies presented in this fashion.
Suggested Clothing
All photos Copyright © Jeff Vermillion
|