Taimen.mn » Fly Patterns

Taimen Flies by Mikhail Skopets

admin — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 15:26:41 +0000

Here is a selection of taimen fly patterns used by Mikhail Skopets in the Russian Far East. Misha is a professional fish biologist & enthusiastic fly-fisherman based out of Khabarovsk. More fly patterns can be found on his website at www.xapuys.ru and his new blog fly fishing Russia. These are some of the large streamers he uses for the big taimen of the Far East. Misha was featured in This Is Fly magazine’s Issue 15 article on the Amur River.

The Articulated Sculpin is a taimen fly based on the design of String Leech Photo: Mikhail Skopets http://flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com/

Black Articulated Leech (String Leech) on 2/0 or 3/0 hook is one of the most efficient flies for both taimen species, Siberian & sea-run. Photo: Mikhail Skopets http://flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com/

Articulated Grayling - another fly with weighted head and big hook on a string. Photo: Mikhail Skopets http://flyfishingrussia.blogspot.com/

Hoppers for Lenok and Grayling

admin — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 00:43:57 +0000

One of our favorite fly fishing set ups in Mongolia is fishing a hopper dropper rig for lenok, grayling and Taimen. With this you have the chance to catch lenok and grayling all day long, and even taimen are often tempted by the hopper. Mikey Wier’s hoppicator is an awesome fly for to use as your hopper / indicator with enough flotation to use with bead head nymphs. Mongolian fish ain’t too fussy on the nymphs, we use prince nymphs and stonefly patterns on the dropper.

: Mikey Wier’s Whopper Hopper Fly

For more info on this fly take a look at Staq’s hoppicator post on Way Upstream. This fly is distributed by Idlewilde Fly Company check out their Chubby Chernobyl’s too.

Here’s Mikey’s video on how to fish the super hopper dropper with the hoppicator

String Thing for Taimen

admin — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 16:18:47 +0000

The String Thing is an awesome steelhead fly and worth swinging for Taimen. Try it in olive, black or purple. The super MOAL Leech is a similar pattern that can be tied for taimen, try anything from 4 to 6 inches.

Link: Pretty in Pink on Way Upstream

String Worms, originally uploaded by wayupstream.

Mongolia Taimen Flies Part II

admin — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 21:49:00 +0000

Back in November I asked whether or not I should publish some of our taimen fly patterns, the response was “Do it!”. My reasoning behind this is in the original post Taimen Flies . Here’s a selection of Alberto Salvini’s favorite patterns for a start.

Alberto Salvini’s Mongolia Taimen Flies

Alberto Salvini fly tying in front of his ger at our Mongolia fly fishing camp. Photo: Marica Cicoria

The classic mouse pattern tied with artificial fibre instead of spun deer hair. Photo Alberto Salvini.

Alberto’s mouse popper, easy to cast, floats high, and makes a splash. Photo: Alberto Salvini

Classic zonker streamer pattern, good for lenok and taimen. Photo: Alberto Salvini

Now just because I’ve been generous enough to share a few fly patterns, don’t think you can just turn up in Mongolia and go fish; you need a permit and you’ll need to book with a responsible outfitter. It will be worth it, you’ll have an awesome trip. More on Mongolia Fishing Permits.

Thanks to Alberto Salvini and Marica Cicoria aka The Italians for sharing these flies.

Taimen flies

admin — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 10:18:00 +0000

Over the years I’ve developed my own taimen flies for fly-fishing in Mongolia, and I’ve collected and adapted fly patterns from friends and fellow taimen guides. I now have a range of flies to use in different situations; buoyant and aggressive top water patterns, prey fish imitations, smaller flies to use on lighter weight rods or for less accomplished fly-casters, huge flies to tempt big ol’ lazy monsters. Flies to match the hatch, and flies to match the angler.

I’ve seen a couple of taimen fly patterns published in magazines, including one I introduced to Mongolia, but you won’t find these commercially available, nor are the recipes published on the web. So should I publish some of these ‘taimen guide fly’ patterns on this blog?

Photo: Maickel and Arthur tying up a storm in the ger.

Some arguments against…

Our competitors, and irresponsible, un-licenced anglers and outfitters will learn our secrets, and use them for evil deeds.
Independent anglers will bypass the guide services because they know what flies to use.
I’ll get severe ear-ache from my fellow guides and outfitters if I publish the ’secret’ taimen guide flies.

Photo: Dan’s bugger barn.

Some arguments for….

Knowing what flies we use and how to tie them will generate more interest in anglers to visit Mongolia, and can dispel myths that you can only catch taimen on huge un-castable prairie dog flies. More anglers booking with responsible outfitters means more re-investment in conservation.
Publishing Taimen flies and fly-patterns can help to promote the sport of fly-fishing in Mongolia for Mongolians. I believe that if we promote and develop the sport here among Mongolians, and teach the catch & release and conservation message at the same time, we will be able to improve conservation and sustainability of taimen fisheries in the long term (we have a Mongolian fly-fishing club in the pipeline too).
Just knowing what flies to bring doesn’t mean you know how to fish them, outfitters and guide services are still needed to get licences, access the fisheries and have the best opportunities for a successful trip. Those irresponsible outfitters who don’t get licences and who copy all our website material still won’t know how to tie flies or what to do with them anyway.
Whosoever invented, introduced or developed the fly for taimen fishing gets the credibility and kudos for doing so, and enhances his/her reputation as a taimen guide and most excellent fly-fisher.

Photo: Jack’s hat. Some clues here?

Its widely known that surface mouse patterns are popular. Knowing that taimen will eat anything from hoppers, to squirrels, to fry, minnows, grayling, lenok trout, and even smaller taimen, they might be tempted to take a large range of flies, so what makes a good pattern?

I tie up all my own taimen flies for our guests, so one of my requirements for a good taimen fly is that I must be able to tie up 6 to 8 in an hour, so for me that generally means no spun deer hair, which I think gets too soggy anyway. Of course the fly has to catch fish; cast-ability is also important, and as I live in Mongolia year round choice of materials is also crucial as I have limited supplies.

What do you think? Publish and be damned or horde our river secrets? Leave a comment to let me know, and I might just treat you to a few choice taimen fly patterns.