How not to land a Taimen

This ugly YouTube video shows a Belgian angler landing a Taimen from the Shishged River in Northern Mongolia.  The Taimen was released, but not before it had been dragged up the bank and rolled in the sand and silt.  This video has generated a number of comments highly critical of the angler.

“That is a despicable display of fish handling, disgraceful really”

“Poor Handling. I cringed every time you beached one of those beautiful fish. Keep sand away from the gills… it would be like having sand shoved down your throat. Keep them in the water…”

And the telling response from the angler:

“Hello I don’t understand what you mean , please tell me…”

Unfortunately this is an example of what happens when outfitters who have little or no experience of fishing organize fishing trips to Mongolia for clients who likewise don’t know how to handle and release fish properly.  The Taimen could have, and should have, been kept in the water while being released; it is possible to do this by grasping the tail with a gloved hand, or using a large net or sling.  Dragging a fish up the bank, putting your hands in the gills, hauling it up by the gills, rolling it in the sand etc will reduce the fish’s chance of survival.  In my nine years in Mongolia I have seen two floaters caused by improper handling; bad handling won’t kill every fish but certainly some will not make it.  Treble hooks only make matters worse.  Taimen are under pressure and need to be given the best chance of survival if we catch and release them.

Catch and release for Taimen is now mandatory in Mongolia, and with single barbless hooks only, but we still have a long way to go in educating anglers and outfitters.  Please follow our Taimen catch and release guidelines published here, and please choose to fish Mongolia with responsible outfitters who hire trained and knowledgeable guides.