Fishing in the Altai Republic and Gorno-Altaisk

Fishing in the Altai Republic and Gorno-Altaisk

- this is an interesting and long-awaited event for all fishermen, especially since in the wide Altai expanses there is always the opportunity to visit several reservoirs at once. This fascinating region, comparable in area to the British Isles, has always attracted people with its rich natural resources. And in terms of fishing, no other region can compare with the Altai Mountains. Fans of fishing call Altai a real fishing mecca and come here for new trophies and emotions several times a year, despite the fact that sometimes they have to travel thousands of kilometers to do this. Fishing in the Altai Mountains brings a rich catch in any season. This feature of local reservoirs is determined by their origin, water composition and freezing time. However, experienced anglers will tell you that the best period for your favorite activity is late summer and early autumn.

Reservoirs of the Altai Republic

Map of reservoirs of the Altai Republic The
Altai Republic is famous for its rich and healing nature, unique ecology, which harmoniously includes lakes of the Altai Republic - of different sizes and types, representing habitats for different valuable species of fish. Altai is rich in colorful and clear mountain lakes, often located at a considerable altitude above sea level. These are, for example, the Karakol lakes, one of the most attractive in Altai, located at an altitude of 1820 and 2100 meters. One of the largest reservoirs in the Altai Territory, which is of glacial origin, is Lake Bolshoye Kucherlinskoye, at an altitude of 1790 meters. It is densely surrounded from the east and west by three-kilometer Altai peaks. Its length is more than five kilometers, and its width is approximately 900 meters.

The ecology of the area and its fish resources now, according to experts, need support and restoration. Therefore, recently fishing in the Altai Republic was limited for some types of fish. In particular, in many areas, fishing for nelma, sturgeon, lenka, and sterlet native to the Altai Republic was limited. The Altai Republic is rich in valuable species of this fish, but the development of its populations and the increase in the number of fish on the territory of the republic requires the care of fisheries conservation and professional ecologists.

The largest waterways of the Altai Republic are, of course, the Katun, Biya and the Ob formed at their confluence. Both local and visiting fishing enthusiasts flock to the shores of these deep reservoirs every year.

More remote, but no less rich in catch, are the fast-moving mountain rivers Argut, Chuya, Alei and Chulyshman. In Altai there are many quiet rivers and stagnant lakes with crystal clear and transparent water, lying in karst gorges at the foot of the mountains. Such ecosystems provide excellent conditions for the reproduction of commercial fish species. The lakes, fed by glaciers, communicate with each other through narrow channels. There are thirteen thousand such water systems here. The most famous of them are Lake Teletskoye, as well as Sorochiy Log, a favorite fishing spot for Barnaul residents. In Altai reservoirs, well-known species of fish are found in large numbers: crucian carp, carp, pike perch, bream, pike, burbot, perch, tench.

However, in mountain rivers you will definitely catch specimens specific to this region: taimen, trout, grayling, lenok. The local variety of whitefish is often caught on the fishing line - peled, omul, Siberian vendace, but most often they can be caught during the winter fishing season.

By the way, during the cold season in Altai you can fish from November to March, and even harsh weather conditions do not stop fishermen going for a trophy in severe frosts. As a rule, their dedication to their work is always rewarded with a rich catch. In winter, the fish lacks food, so it is easy to feed them. In the frozen Ob, carp, crucian carp and perch are successfully caught through the holes. But on the banks of the mountain rivers Argut and Chulyshman you can try to catch grayling hiding from the severe cold in the depths. Large trout are found on the Blue Lakes, located near the village of Askat.

Fishing enthusiasts enjoy not only the fishing process itself, but also the contemplation of local beauty, the fact that they can breathe in the cleanest air, relax and break away from the bustle of big cities. The largest lake in the Altai Mountains, Teletskoye, has all of the above advantages. It is surrounded on all sides by forest, which looks very picturesque at any time of the year. The huge expanse of water, about 80 km long, attracts both amateurs and professionals who come here specifically to catch grayling, Teletskoye whitefish, and taimen. The giant reservoir, which forms a numerous and extensive network of tributaries, is home to about 14 species of fish.

Taimen can be caught well here with a spinning rod, but those who prefer fly fishing will certainly enjoy the local grayling that lives in the bottom areas of the lake. Taurus dace is excellently caught on classic fishing rods with floats. Closer to September, fishermen come to Lake Teletskoye for the pike predator.

In November there are also many fishermen who settle in the unfrozen creeks with fishing rods, waiting for their catch. For example, in the southern part the lake is often left without an ice shell. At the same time, ice fishing brings a fairly large catch. Some fishermen, having cleared the ice from the snow cover, can, as if through glass, watch the fish swimming in the reservoir. And catching them will be double luck. During the cold season, fishermen go to Lake Teletskoye for burbot, perch or pike. To catch them, balancers or silver baits in the form of fry are used.

Other interesting places for fishing are lakes Talmen, Kaldinkul, Shavlinsky lakes and Uymen. Grayling and trout are often found here.

By the way, trout in Altai can be found in other rivers and lakes with crystal clear water, for example in the Ulagan lakes. A knowledgeable fisherman will catch this whimsical commercial fish in the Karatashinsky lakes. Trout is found in Lake Darashkol, in the upper reaches of Pyzhi, Uykaratash and in lakes near the village. Productive.

Specific to the reservoirs of the Mountainous Republic, taimen or “king fish”, as the locals call this fish, is not often caught on bait. This fish is distinguished by its caution and large size: in the Katun and Biya rivers there are 2-3 kilogram specimens weighing up to 40-50 kilograms. Also, taimen comes across to those who like fishing in fast-moving mountain streams with a rocky bottom.

Mountain Altai gives fishing lovers an unforgettable experience and the opportunity to try their luck in the most diverse corners of this rich region. Wherever you go - to lakes with clear water or to roaring mountain rivers - everywhere you can count on a rich catch. At the same time, experienced fishermen recommend selecting gear based on the characteristics of the chosen location. If you are traveling to mountain rivers, be sure to take spinning rods with a short handle with you. If you decide to fish on the shores of a stagnant lake, then you need to take long fishing rods with the ability to cast over a long distance. “Boat” fishermen can use long fishing rods or short fishing rods.

Fishing in Altai will give you vivid emotions and allow you to fully enjoy the silence of lakes surrounded by mountain ranges, clean air that has absorbed the aroma of steppes, mountains and water, the loud roar of mountain rivers running through the gorges, and, of course, an excellent bite.

What kind of fish is found in the Altai Republic

As a rule, fishermen go to the Altai Territory in search of those types of fish that are impossible to catch in the usual reservoirs of the central zone of the Russian Federation. But this does not mean at all that there are no familiar fish in the region, as practice and reviews on forums show, the following types of fish can most often be found in the catches of fishermen of the Altai Republic:

crucian carp;
Tench;
Perch;
Roach;
Taimen;
Grayling;
Pike;
Whitefish;
Burbot;
Char;
Sculpin;
Trout.

Fishing places

The most popular fishing spots:

Katun River. Fishing on the Katun is especially good in early autumn, when the water becomes clear. The most successful area for fishing is considered to be the “Upper” Katun region, which starts from the slopes of Mount Belukha and to the mouth of the Koksa River. Katun is home to grayling and a unique type of fish - taimen.
Biya River. The second largest and only river flowing from Lake Teletskoye. Biya is famous for the presence of the so-called “taimen pits”. Here, as in Katun, you can catch grayling or taimen.
Chulyshman River. The valley of the Chulyshman River is now the wildest areas of Altai. The river originates in the high-mountain lake Dzhulukul and flows into Lake Teletskoye, being its largest tributary. The river is home to grayling and taimen.
Sumulta River. It is famous for its large abundance of grayling.
Lake Teletskoye. The largest reservoir in the Altai Mountains. Fishing on Lake Teletskoye is extremely varied. The lake is home to quite rare species of fish: taimen, uskuch, Telets whitefish, burbot, grayling, etc. There are more than 15 species of fish in total. Fishing here is possible both from the shore and from a boat. Most often, fishermen note a good bite at the mouths of numerous rivers flowing into the lake. The most popular place is Big Chile.
Lake Talmennoe. A hard-to-reach lake in the Altai mountains. Located in the Ust-Koksinsky district, in the upper reaches of the Katun River.
The lake is rich in grayling and whitefish. You can get to the lake by helicopter, on foot or on horseback (the journey takes about 2 days).
Lake Kucherlinskoye. An amazingly beautiful lake with turquoise water. Located in the Ust-Koksinsky district of the Altai Republic. The lake is difficult to access; you can get there along a mountain path on horseback, on foot or by helicopter. There is a base of the same name on the shore of the lake. There are grayling in the lake.
Lakes of the Ulagansky district. The Ulagansky district is the land of a thousand lakes; there are so many of them that it is impossible to count them. Many are still without names.
At 21 km of the Aktash - Ulagan highway, 2 km from the road there is Trout Lake, rich in rainbow trout and whitefish, not far from the village of Balyktuyul there is a chain of lakes "Koldyn Kol" where mountain pike and osman are found, and along the route itself there are a large number of lakes, offering fishing for pike, peled, and osman.

Free fishing in the Altai Republic

If you consider yourself a fisherman to the core, but have never been to Altai, reel in your fishing rods! You won't find fishing like this anywhere else. After all, Altai is one of the few places on the planet where there are still islands of pristine nature.

Mountain lakes and wild rivers are full of a wide variety of fish. Among them there are both very rare specimens and endemics not found anywhere else in the world. This was largely possible thanks to the purest water, saturated with oxygen and various minerals. Even soup boiled in such water can change the composition of a person’s blood, improving the general physical condition and filling the body with the forces of nature itself.

The main territory is mountains. There are short summers and cold winters. The mountain ranges are crowned by the famous Mount Belukha. Altai in Mongolian means “Golden Mountain”. The rivers stretch for 59 thousand km. The Mountain Republic is home to 7 thousand lakes, making it a fisherman's paradise. You have several options to get to the fishing resources of the Altai Mountains. This is to live there or have relatives. Become a tourist and go hiking, for example, along the most beautiful routes of the Chuya Range.

Fishing in Altai is not only an opportunity for a good catch, but also an unforgettable experience that will make your soul sing joyfully for a long time.

Here are the TOP 10 best places where you can fish for free in the Altai Republic:

Fishing places of the Altai Republic

Katun River.
Fishing on the Katun is especially good in early autumn, when the water becomes clear. The “Upper” Katun region, which starts from the slopes of Mount Belukha and to the mouth of the Koksa River, is considered the most successful for fishing. Katun is home to grayling and a unique species of fish – taimen.
Biya River.
The second largest and only river flowing from Lake Teletskoye. Biya is famous for the presence of the so-called “taimen pits”. Here, as in Katun, you can catch grayling or taimen.
Chulyshman River.
The valley of the Chulyshman River is now the wildest areas of Altai. The river originates in the high-mountain lake Dzhulukul and flows into Lake Teletskoye, being its largest tributary. The river is home to grayling and taimen.
Sumulta River.
It is famous for its large abundance of grayling.
Lake Teletskoye.
The largest reservoir in the Altai Mountains. Fishing on Lake Teletskoye is extremely varied. The lake is home to quite rare species of fish: taimen, uskuch, Telets whitefish, burbot, grayling, etc. There are more than 15 species of fish in total. Fishing here is possible both from the shore and from a boat. Most often, fishermen note a good bite at the mouths of numerous rivers flowing into the lake. The most popular place is Big Chile.
Lake Talmennoe.
A hard-to-reach lake in the Altai mountains. Located in the Ust-Koksinsky district, in the upper reaches of the Katun River. The lake is rich in grayling and whitefish. You can get to the lake by helicopter, on foot or on horseback (the journey takes about 2 days).
Lake Kucherlinskoye.
An amazingly beautiful lake with turquoise water. Located in the Ust-Koksinsky district of the Altai Republic. The lake is difficult to access; you can get there along a mountain path on horseback, on foot or by helicopter. There is a base of the same name on the shore of the lake. There are grayling in the lake.
Lakes of the Ulagansky district.
The Ulagansky district is the land of a thousand lakes; there are so many of them that it is impossible to count them. Many are still without names.
At 21 km of the Aktash - Ulagan highway, 2 km from the road there is Trout Lake
, rich in rainbow trout and whitefish, not far from the village of Balyktuyul there is a chain of lakes “Koldyn Kol” where mountain pike and osman are found, and along the route itself there are a large number of lakes, offering fishing for pike, peled, and osman.
Lake Verkhnemultinskoye.
An amazing and interesting body of water in the republic is Lake Verkhnemultinskoye, where you can find minnows. Most fishermen from all over the country come in search of this wonderful and rare fish, which is almost impossible to catch in other regions. Grayling is also often found here.

Do you know any other good places for fishing in the Altai Republic - write in the comments