The Smart Fishing Gear.

Fishing Adventures in Russia

There is no more prestigious trophy for a fly fisherman than taimen trout. Taimen fishing is difficult and requires travelling to some of the most remote places on earth. Mature taimen is very territorial and is rarely found in proximity to oher taimen. Taimen for a good reason is frequently called by the locals water tiger or river wolf. Taimen trout is a tenacious, merciless, swift, and strong predator, who prays not only on fish, but also on birds and small mammals – ducks, snipe, mouse, squirrels, and muskrats. Having excellent sight, it is capable of seeing well in the water, and also distinguishing the objects on the shore.

Taimen can jump and snatch small animals on dry land when they are in close proximity to the shoreline. With the autumn temperature drop Siberian taimen migrates into the deeper, not freezing through parts of the rivers. Taimen lives longer than other Salmonidae, up to 50 years and more, continuously growing during the entire life. Most rapid growth occurs during the first 10-13 years, when its length increases annually by 8-10 centimeters (3-4 inches). Maturity is reached on the 5-7 year of life. Young taimen usually stays in small groups of 3-7, adult – in pairs or as singles. Larger congregations of taimen are observed sometimes prior their migration into the lower streams of the rivers just before winter; during this period very deep holes can have up to 10-15 large specimens.

The activity of taimen into the summer-autumn season is subjected to very specific fluctuations. It is most high soon after spawning. During hot weather, when water becomes warm, which happens often in the slower flowing rivers of the South Siberian and Northern Mongolian planes, taimen become sluggish. In the opinion of some fishermen, a drop in their activity at this time is also caused by the painful process of replacing the teeth. Therefore during July and first half of August catching large taimen in Mongolia and Southern Siberia is rather difficult. Nearer the end of August taimen becomes more active, and during September in anticipation of ice formation it becomes very active and even aggressive. In summer the best time to catch a taimen is early in the morning and after 5-6 PM, up top the twilight. In autumn biting is more uniform during the day.

Taimen can be caught with spinning, using yellow or silver spoon baits between 2 to 4 inches long, or fly rod, using “mouse”. Large taimen, when attacking the “mouse”, may “suppress” it by a violent strike of the tail before turning and taking the bait. In September taimen is not very discriminate in it’s diet and would take any bait, but during the summer different size and color baits has to be tried.

There are four known species of taimen: Danube taimen (Hucho hucho), and Korean taimen (Hucho ischikawai), Sakhalin taimen (Hucho perryi) and the most numerous, Common or Siberian taimen (Hucho taimen).