A Taimen caught on a streamer fly on the Onon River, Mongolia
Taimen
Hucho taimen
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Taimen Description
Taimen are a rare and majestic fish found in river drainages from Eastern Europe to China. They are the largest members of the Salmonidae family, which includes Salmon and Trout. The largest Taimen ever recorded was caught in Russia in 1943 and weighed an incredible 231lbs. There are few if any fish of that size still left, and the current IGFA record is 101lbs.
Taimen have a typical trout body, but are more elongated. Past about 35 inches, they start to put on a lot of girth for each inch of additional growth. They typically have olive heads that transition to a red or orange tail.
Taimen are opportunistic feeders and are likely to try to eat anything swimming in the river that they can get in their mouths. This includes a variety of other fish, birds, and even rodents. In some areas, locals have fished for Taimen using whole dead squirrels for bait.
Even in river systems with healthy populations, of which there are few, there are never large numbers of Taimen present. As apex predators, there are relatively few per square mile of water, although they are often present in small groups of a few individuals.
To help preserve this rare and beautiful species, Taimen should be carefully released.
Taimen Pound for Pound Fight Rating - 6.5 out of 10 on the Freshwater Scale
Taimen often have a spectacular strike, sometimes coming completely out of the water to engulf topwater offerings. Although not especially strong for their size, they are quite adept at shaking their heads and dislodging hooks. They sometimes jump, although many do not.
Taimen Tackle
Taimen are often fished for with fly tackle, and an 8wt or 9wt rod is appropriate. Conventional tackle will vary according to the size of the lures used, but 30lb class tackle is about right.
Hucho taimen
HOME
Other Species
Taimen Description
Taimen are a rare and majestic fish found in river drainages from Eastern Europe to China. They are the largest members of the Salmonidae family, which includes Salmon and Trout. The largest Taimen ever recorded was caught in Russia in 1943 and weighed an incredible 231lbs. There are few if any fish of that size still left, and the current IGFA record is 101lbs.
Taimen have a typical trout body, but are more elongated. Past about 35 inches, they start to put on a lot of girth for each inch of additional growth. They typically have olive heads that transition to a red or orange tail.
Taimen are opportunistic feeders and are likely to try to eat anything swimming in the river that they can get in their mouths. This includes a variety of other fish, birds, and even rodents. In some areas, locals have fished for Taimen using whole dead squirrels for bait.
Even in river systems with healthy populations, of which there are few, there are never large numbers of Taimen present. As apex predators, there are relatively few per square mile of water, although they are often present in small groups of a few individuals.
To help preserve this rare and beautiful species, Taimen should be carefully released.
Taimen Pound for Pound Fight Rating - 6.5 out of 10 on the Freshwater Scale
Taimen often have a spectacular strike, sometimes coming completely out of the water to engulf topwater offerings. Although not especially strong for their size, they are quite adept at shaking their heads and dislodging hooks. They sometimes jump, although many do not.
Taimen Tackle
Taimen are often fished for with fly tackle, and an 8wt or 9wt rod is appropriate. Conventional tackle will vary according to the size of the lures used, but 30lb class tackle is about right.
Releasing a beautiful Taimen in Mongolia
Taimen Techniques
Taimen can be targeted on fly or lures. When targeting Taimen in rivers on lure or fly, casts should be made to typical fish-holding water such as points, dropoffs, confluences of channels, entrances to sloughs, and sunken timber or large boulders.
Bait fishing should be avoided for Taimen due to potential damage to the fish. If using lures (where permitted), please change out treble hooks to singles and pinch down barbs.
Taimen Lures
I have not fished for Taimen with lures, but I'm sure any number of hardbaits and soft plastics resembling fish in the 6" to 10"+ range work. They will hit both surface and subsurface offerings aggressively.
Taimen Flies
A wide variety of flies work for Taimen. Large streamer flies like the ones shown below are popular. Many fish have also been caught on mouse flies or surface poppers. While fish may show a preference for one fly or another depending on the conditions, as a general rule they are not picky and the key is to get keep casting in order to get whatever fly you are using in front of a hungry fish rather than constantly changing flies to find the perfect one.
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Taimen Baits
Taimen should be released, and therefore should not be fished for using bait.
Where to Catch Big Taimen
Mongolia has the best and most accessible fishing for Taimen. Contact Mongolia River Outfitters (https://mongoliarivers.com/)
Taimen should be released, and therefore should not be fished for using bait.
Where to Catch Big Taimen
Mongolia has the best and most accessible fishing for Taimen. Contact Mongolia River Outfitters (https://mongoliarivers.com/)
Keep Taimen in the water as much as possible and release them to fight another day.
Beautiful Taimen caught on a streamer fly