Journey Through Mongolia on a Summer Fly Fishing Trip With Us: Part 1

Some essential flies for trout fishing in Mongolia

PREPARATION

June 15th marks the opening season for fishing in Mongolia. The rivers are closed to fishing in spring to allow the fish to spawn.

We arrive just as the fishing season opens and is excited to see what the rivers have instore for us.

FLIES FOR SUMMER FLY FISHING IN MONGOLIA

First thing to prepare are the flies. The arrival of warmer temperatures means more insects and that means terrestrial and dry flies.

You cannot go without certain flies such as hoppers and klinkhammers in your fly box.

Klinkhammer flies works well for trout in Mongolia and hoppers are a must and a lot of fun for Mongolia during warmer months

THE JOURNEY BEGINS

The capital of Mongolia, Ulanbaatar, is now accessible by flight from many major cities around the world. The city has seen rapid development over the last decade.

Some of us took the Kuala Lumpur – Seoul – Ulanbaataar flight route, and met up in Ulaanbaatar with another angler who flew from Singapore.

Packing for a trip to Mongolia

THE FLIGHT

: Some of us flew the Kuala Lumpur – Seoul – Ulanbaatar route

: Nice airport in Seoul

: Very busy airport too

: A bummer surprise greeted us in Seoul as our flight was delayed by five and half hour making it a total 13-hour layover!

: And Korean Air don’t even give a reason for the flight delay

: At least there are okay food in the airport

: Some people do shop a lot. Random shot of some passenger repacking their luggage.

DAY 1

After a night in a local hotel, we set off early after breakfast to our wilderness destination. Before we exit the city we stop by to stock up on some light food in case hunger strikes in odd hours.

En route is also an opportunity for quick stops to look at some sights and to the toilets. Mongolia is both a stunning and very different country that all first timers will find very facsinating.

SHOPPING

: Loading up snack at the local supermarket

Father and son team, Otto and Lim.

If you’re going the same direction, make sure to stop and view the giant monument of Chinggis Khan atop a horse just outside the city.

Lim taking a shot with an eagle as a memento

Hua Hee, too taking a picture with an these majestic bird that nomadic Mongolians train to hunt with.

Horses are a common sight in Mongolia

Lunch break by a riverside

Lam from Singapore looking happy, as always.

River crossing is part and parcel of the journey

The journey by land can take the best part of a day. The plus side is you get to see a lot of the country and even experience some local culture or wildlife during some stops. Comfortable vehicles help smoothen the ride.

On the other side of the river

Pit stop to repair a puncture

What’s a road trip without a little adventure

Taking in the sights while the crew work on the tire change

Into the sunset

Another quick stop before our camp

The sunset that greeted us upon arrival at our cabin

Home for a week

Stunning skies

Walking distance to the river

Hua Hee, settles down in the cabin and gearing up for fishing tomorrow.

DAY 2:

NEXT MORNING

Taking in the super fresh and cool air is always very refreshing in the first morning. After a superb hot breakfast and coffee outside, we’re ready for the river.

: Clear blue skies

: Summer means plenty of flowers

: Gear ready

: Outdoor breakfast

FIRST FEW FISH

Checking out the rivers and getting a feel of the bite rate.

Lenok trout kicks off the catches

Closer look at a lenok trout on a klinkhammer fly

Lunch break by the river

Lenoks can be very aggressive

Lim senior with one of his first few lenok trouts above.

Underwater look of a lenok trout.

We got back at camp in the early evening on day 1 as most are still a little tired from the traveling the past two days.

Scenery outside from the wood cabin.

Sushi in Mongolia for dinner, in the wilderness? Why not!

We cannot resist walking to a river just in front of camp and have a few casts in the dark. Taimen and trouts are known to attack topwater flies and lures in the dark. Casting can be a little tricky though as it is easy to get hung up on snags and the opposite bank.

A lenok trout with a mouse fly.