In search of grayling. Mountain Altai. October 2021.

Fishing in Altai: popular places, recreation centers

True fishermen are ready to travel thousands of kilometers to enjoy a special action - fishing. Of course, every fisherman dreams of a good catch, so places are chosen very carefully. Fishing in Altai deserves special attention, because there are legends about the reservoirs where various species of fish are found. In addition, Gorny Altai has an extraordinary pristine nature, the landscapes of which can be enjoyed endlessly. There are particularly popular places among fishermen; we will consider their features below.

Altai for fishermen

First of all, it is worth saying a few words about the wealth of Altai . This is a huge territory that captivates with its diversity and splendor of nature. There are more than 7 thousand lakes in Altai alone, and about 17 thousand rivers. There are nature reserves, natural monuments and untouched nature, the water in the reservoirs is crystal clear. The underwater world is no less beautiful, it is rich and delights in diversity.

The most popular season in Altai for fishermen begins in August and ends in September, but this does not mean at all that they come here only at this time. In fact, fishing enthusiasts come here all year round.

There is also a particularly popular fish that everyone dreams of catching, but it is not so easy. This is a Siberian grayling fish, which is very cautious in the aquatic world and is distinguished by the fact that it swims quickly. They say that only experienced fishermen can catch it, although there are claims that it will require luck rather than experience.

Also popular species of fish that people come to this region for are:

Red pike . It lives in reservoirs with a rocky bottom and always freshwater. They fish with a spinning rod and use a spinner for bait.
Trout . This species lives only in crystal clear water. The best period for fishing is early spring and late autumn. But insects will serve as excellent bait.
If we talk about winter fishing, people come here to catch omul, peled and Siberian vendace .

Of course, there are many species of fish that live in other regions within the capital. People come here for an excellent catch of perch, crucian carp, burbot, bream, pike and many others. There are species listed in the Red Book.

Free fishing in the Altai Territory

There are few places in Russia with such nature as in the Altai Territory and with such fishing spots. In rivers and lakes, in channels and bays there is an abundance of rare specimens of fish and those that live only in Altai reservoirs.

There is the purest water here, with a lot of oxygen and useful minerals. And local fishermen will tell you exciting legends, traditions, stories about mysterious fish and miracles on lakes untouched by civilization. In a word, 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.

There are more than 17 thousand streams and rivers in the region. Rivers often begin in the mountains, and closer to the mouth they switch to a calm flow across the plains. In addition, they fish on lakes, of which there are up to 13 thousand, on reservoirs and in numerous channels. Here you can catch perch, tench and minnows, bream, pike, pike perch and many other types of fish. Trophies are considered to be the capture of grayling, sturgeon, nelma and molt.

Here are the TOP 9 best places where you can fish for free in the Altai Territory:

Lake Teletskoye

What kind of fish is found:

taimen
teletsky whitefish
whitefish Pravdina
grayling
lenok (usk)
burbot
dace
pike
lkun
bream

Description of how to get there:

Lake Teletskoye is the pearl of the Altai Mountains. It is one of the deepest on the planet; about 70 mountain rivers and streams with crystal clear water flow into it.

Every self-respecting fisherman should visit here at least once in his life. Fishing on Teletskoye is very different from other places, because here even the wind can blow from four sides at the same time, so you need special skill.

The lake is rightfully considered one of the most fishy. It contains both familiar species and endemics that live only here, for example, the Telets whitefish and the Pravdin whitefish. However, the lake is still famous for burbot and “mountain” taimen.

A big plus of Lake Teletskoye is that fishing here is good at any time of the year (even in winter the lake does not freeze). Of course, summer is beyond competition, because in addition to fishing, you can enjoy magnificent scenery. There are camp sites on the shore of the lake where you can stay.

GPS coordinates: 51.78682, 87.2523

2. Katun River

What kind of fish is found:

grayling
chebak
Siberian char
lenok
taimen
nelma
sculpin goby
river minnow
zander
ide
dace
perch
sterlet
Siberian sturgeon

Description of how to get there:

The Katun is the largest mountain river in Altai with ice-cold water and a very fast current. 28 species of fish live here. The most valuable are burbot, taimen, and grayling. Fishermen from different regions come here specifically for grayling. It is especially well caught in the upper reaches of the river, near the village of Tyungyur. The best time for fishing is the second half of August and September. People fish on the Katun, as a rule, using spinning rods, float rods, fly fishing, and donka.

There are many tourist bases along the banks of the Katun, so there will definitely be no problems with accommodation. In addition, fishing tours to these places are very popular in Altai. Their cost ranges from 3 to 30 thousand rubles, depending on the duration and location.

GPS coordinates: 50.33274, 85.87055

Biya River

What kind of fish is found:

taimen
lenok
grayling
sterlet
zander
pike
perch
burbot
ide
bream
roach
Chebak, etc.

Description of how to get there:

The Biya River is one of the best places for fishing in Altai. It’s not for nothing that even the most experienced fishermen come here. Firstly, the bite on Biya is always a source of envy. Secondly, the river is famous for its trophy specimens. Thirdly, the magnificent landscapes of the mountainous areas will definitely not leave you indifferent. As a rule, they catch here using a spinning rod. Fishing is allowed all year round, except during the spawning season. It is worth noting that fishing on the Biya is not easy, since the river has a non-standard landscape, but this only encourages real fishermen even more.

Biya is famous for the presence of so-called “taimen pits”, but do not forget that taimen is listed in the Red Book and its fishing is prohibited. Therefore, even if you catch him, you must let him go. There are also a lot of grayling on Biya, which fishermen love so much. There are several good fishing and tourist bases along the banks.

GPS coordinates: 52.49361, 86.23723