Pike fishing in eastern Mongolia

While most anglers head north for taimen, eastern Mongolia is quietly one of the best pike destinations in Asia.

Where to go

• Kherlen River: slow, meandering water with weed beds and oxbow lakes.
• Onon River (lower): mixed fishing for pike, lenok and grayling.
• Buir Lake: a large, shallow lake on the Chinese border with pike, perch and carp.

Two kinds of pike

The eastern rivers belong to the Amur basin and hold Amur pike, a spotted species that differs from the northern pike found elsewhere in Mongolia.

Tactics

Use wire or heavy fluorocarbon leaders — pike teeth cut through normal line. Spoons, jerkbaits and large streamers all work. Fish the edges of weed beds early and late in the day.

Logistics

The east is flat and roads are good by Mongolian standards, but distances are huge. Plan on long driving days and bring enough fuel and water.

Cover photo: GerritR, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons