Taimen Fishing with Hemispheres Unlimited
It’s the first week of September 2025 as I make my way to the remote rivers of the Eg and Üur in north central Mongolia to fish for the elusive Taimen; a long journey to be sure. I was first introduced to the fishing possibilities Mongolia offers from my friend Justin Witt of Hemispheres Unlimited and I thought what a unique experience it would be to travel to such a remote location.
As I enter the Upper Camp I’m immediately struck by how beautiful the landscape is with its picturesque rivers flowing through lush valleys and hills of many colors. The deciduous trees are alright turning to their autumn
n colors. This land has already captivated me and I haven’t even started to fish yet. We arrive by
plane onto a grassy pasture to meet up with Ganpurev Enebish or Gana as we call him; who manages the camp and guides as well. I get organized in my ger and meet the remaining five guests for the week. We have a quick Mongolian lunch and as a bonus set out to fish that very afternoon. The Mongolian people are some of the friendliest and most kind-hearted individuals I’ve ever met. They always have a ready smile to offer. And their food is delicious. For us it was a different dish every night.
There is a major conservation effort here to restore the fishery to its glorious past. Targeting the Taimen means many casts using many methods such as wading, drifting, and using a controlled drift by anchor. The guides, with their many years of experience and accumulated knowledge, can and will help produce the fish of a lifetime. When a large Taimen bursts out of the water to engulf a topwater foam mouse pattern your heart might stop for a minute. It is one of the most thrilling experiences in freshwater flyfishing. They’re sure to make a scene when they explode out of the water and make many acrobatic jumps as your rod bends to the breaking point. It’s exhilarating to watch as the fish finally turns on its side with its massive head pointing to the net. A fish over 40 inches is well within the realm of possibility and one over 50 inches can be achieved.
I’ve had the good fortune to have many fly fishing experiences in my life. This trip ranks right up there as one of the best. From the start of the fire in your ger as you wake up early in the morning, to hopping into your boat with your very capable guide during the day to a tasty and finely prepared meal with all the stories of heavy fish caught and lost at the table; there’s no feeling quite like it.
