The Best Fishing in Russia
Where to go Fishing in Russia
Russia is home to some of the best fishing opportunities on the planet. These opportunities center around the members of the salmonid family (trout, char, taimen, salmon, and lenok). From the upper reaches of the Arctic circle, to the rolling hills and broad rivers of Southern Siberia, large and plentiful fish call Russian waters home. While more renown areas such as the Kola and Kamchatkan Peninsula receive plenty of notoriety around the world, hidden gems such as Sakhalin Island, the Amur and Tugur Rivers, Taymyr Peninsula, and the northern drainages along the Sea of Okhotsk can provide outright better opportunities than these more popular destinations. We will take a dive into each of these locations as we discuss The Best Fishing in Russia.
Fishing in Sakhalin
​One the best kept fishing secrets in Russia, the fishing on Sakhalin Island is second to none. While salmon runs are the top of the list for many visitors to the island, it is there lesser known species that make this place species. While Pink, Cherry, Chum and Coho salmon enter these rivers each summer, The Sakhalin taimen is the trophy sought by dedicated anglers looking for a true trophy sized fish. Dolly Varden and White Spotted Char (Kundzha) also reenter the rivers here in mid to late summer. The plus sized kundzha in the river fight like freight trains and will eat just about anything that crosses their path. The monstrous Sakhalin Taimen can be a little more choosy in the rivers they inhabit on the island. Meals for these fish are often large. Lures and flies greater than 12" may still be a small stock for these apex predators of the estuaries. The taimen here are still heavily protected by law and by locals as the island is home to their last strongholds in the world. Only a half dozen rivers or so on Russia's mainland and Japan's northernmost island of Hokkaido host native populations which are still under threat. For anglers with this rare taimen species on their bucket list, there is simply no better place to visit in the world. ​You can read more about Fishing in Sakhalin in this article.​​​​​
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Fishing the Kola Peninsula
The Kola Peninsula is home to arguably the greatest Atlantic Salmon Fishing in the world. In terms of both size and numbers the Kola boasts one of the last healthy populations of Atlantic Salmon runs. Pair these incredible fish with sea run Arctic Char that accompany the Atlantic Salmon in the Ponoi, Varzuga, and Yokanga Rivers each summer/fall and you have a must visit for adventurous anglers. In the headwaters and nearby lakes of the region, grayling and brown trout can be found in not only good numbers but in above average sizes. The opportunity to target world class Atlantic Salmon keeps many anglers on the larger rivers as the salmon runs are in full swing. This is one of the few areas of the world where pink salmon will be present in the rivers along with Atlantic Salmon.
Fishing the Kamchatka Peninsula
The Kamchatkan Peninsula receives plenty of accolades around the fishing world and all for good reason. The region is home to some of the best fishing in the world. Salmon, steelhead, and char are the main target for visitors to the peninsula which is far larger than many realize as it has an area larger than that of California. The only slight against the region is that it's hype often overshadows other fantastic fishing opportunities of eastern Russia which are as good if not better.
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Kamchatka's claim to fame is that it is everything Alaska once was. Rural untouched tundra and taiga with prolific runs of salmon each summer and fall. Cherry, King, Pink, Sockeye, Chum, and Coho salmon run the various rivers of the region, typically in that order each year. Dolly Varden, White Spotted Char (Kundzha), and White/Stone Char are the native Chars of the region. Rainbow trout/Steelhead and Trophy Size grayling also bring many anglers to the area each year.
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Several of these species only occur in particular areas. King salmon, Cherry Salmon, Sockeye Salmon, and Stone Char can only be found in a few streams of the peninsula. Pink Salmon, Chum Salmon, Coho Salmon, Kundzha, Dolly Varden, and Steelhead are quite abundant in many of the streams. The Kundzha tend to be the apex predators in these waters, taking advantage of summer/fall runs of salmon, as well as spring migrations of smolt towards the sea. Individuals can regularly break the 30'' mark and even exceed 40''.
Fishing in Magadan
Magadan is a coastal town on the northern Sea of Othotsk. The city is a gateway of the Russian East. While resident char and runs of Pink, Chum, and Coho salmon occur in rivers such as the Ola, Yana, and Arman rivers near town the true gems lie just beyond reach of most vehicles in the area. The Yama River offers what is arguably the best fishing in all of Eastern Russia in terms of fish size, numbers, and diversity. 7 species of salmonid are present in the river, all of which can reach world class sizes. If there was one stop to be made in Russia for any angler this may be it. While salmon are the main targets of the river and the region, the diversity of the Char family is second to none around the world. Dolly Varden, Kundzha, Yellowmouth Char, Neiva Char, and White Char can all be found in the area. The Char Slam is a worthy goal for the best and most intrepid anglers.
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The Yama River is an excellent place to start the journey for the local char species. Dolly Varden and Kundzha are quite common in the Yama River with Kundzha reaching world class sizes here. The Yellowmouth Char is less prolific but can be found mixing in with the other two species as they make their way upstream toward their spawning grounds. The Neiva Char is only found in a few lakes across the region. Lake Mak-Mak is the closest to Magadan that hosts the Neiva Char. This char is highly predatorial as it patrols the lake. The best time to target these Char will be in August when the local runs of Sockeye salmon enter the lake on their spawning run. The Char will shadow these groups of salmon to the mouth of the sole tributary of the lake. White/Stone Char can be found in a handful of places across eastern Russia but Lake Chistoe hosts the populations closest to Magadan. The char is the the smallest of the forementioned feeding solely on sticklebacks, lamprey, salmon fry, and other small fishes within the lake. It is best targeted at the mouths of the many tributaries and the outlet of the relatively shallow lake.
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You can read more about the Char Slam, Yama River, and Fishing in Magadan in this article.
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Yellowmouth Char
Yama River Kundzha
Neiva Char of Mak-Mak Lake
Fishing The Amur and Tugur Rivers
Tugur River
Amur River
The Amur and Tugur are home to the best freshwater predator fishing in the world. Amur Pike, Yellowcheek, Mandarin Bass, giant Lenok, and the renown Siberian Taimen can be found in these rivers of Southeastern Russia as well as some of their tributaries. These predators have insatiable appetites that the largest lures and streamers in the world are not enough to satisfy at times. The local taimen in these rivers are known for regularly eating adult pink and chum salmon as they migrate up the rivers in late summer and fall.
Fishing the Amur River
The headwaters of the Amur begin in northeastern Mongolia and make their way eastward to the Pacific Ocean. From the birthplace on Genghis Khan to is lowland estuary, the river winds and braids through the boreal forests of southern Siberia. Between its banks swift currents hide lurking monsters such as the Siberian Taimen while stagnant backwards choked with weedy vegetation hide the ferocious Amur Pike.
Amur Pike
Tugur River Fishing
​The Tugur is home to some of the largest Siberian Taimen in the world. Taimen here regularly surpass the 50 pound mark. Massive streamers, oversized gear and sink tip lines are standard for fly anglers visiting the Tugur. Gear fisherman find the largest lures in existence to coerce these apex predators. Only a pair of lodges are found on the Tugur limiting access to many in the river. On the plus side, the river sees little angling pressure per mile here. The best fishing occurs once the summer rains reside in late July and continues through October.
Fishing in Central Siberia
The drainages and tributaries of the lower Yenesei River offer some of the most remote fishing in not just Russia but the world. Finding a nearby town or city to relate the region to is difficult because of it's seclusion. the best fishing begins a few hundred mile north of Krasnoyarsk along the Yenesei river. The river and it's tributaries are known for massive taimen. Both numbers of taimen and individuals of world class proportions occupy the rivers of the region. The area is also known for a good diversity of fishes. Plus sized lenok and grayling are common targets for anglers as well. Whitefish and Inconnu are also present in specific stretches of rivers. Tributaries of the lower Yenesei such as Bakhta River are arguably more productive then the Yenesei itself, especially during the warmer months. While reaching these destinations may take some time, the rewards are well worth the adventure.
Fishing the Taymyr Peninsula
Nested firmly inside the Arctic Circle, the Taymyr Peninsula is one of the most unique fisheries in the world and without a doubt, the best Arctic Char fishing in the world. The world record Arctic Char was caught here in 2021. The Char here are big, colourful, and plentiful. The summer months see the Char move into the bays along the river mouths then upstream for their spawn. July and August are the best times to visit. Streamer and flashy lures are the best way to catch the attention of these fish. Alongside the fishing in the rivers, Lake dwelling char also grow to trophy sizes. The summer months sees these char patrolling the shallows of the lakes looking for easy meals. These char may be subspecies of the Arctic Char or a species to themselves.
World Record Arctic Char from the Taymyr Peninsula
Fly Fishing Russia
Want to learn more about Fly Fishing in Russia? This book by Mikhail Skopets is unquestionably the unmatched authority on the subject. His life's work has been discovering and documenting the fish of Russia and there a few folks on the planet with rivaled knowledge. Whether your planning a trip to Siberia or the Far East, entertaining the idea of potential travel options for trophy fishing, or looking for an informative read on some of the most unique fish and fisheries around the world, Mikhail's book is worth every penny.
Guided Fishing in Russia
If you're looking for a guided fishing experience or hosted trip in Russia. We can help set up trips to various locations. Lodges are available on the Amur River, Tugur River, Yenesei River, and Sakhalin Island for targeting trophy sized Taimen. Lodges are also available on the Kola Peninsula for individuals targeting Atlantic Salmon and Char. Backcountry trips for salmon, char, and grayling are available on the Taymyr Peninsula, Chukotka, and Magadan. Reach out for more information in our contact section below.
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