Lake Baikal fishing

Region: Russia, Southern Siberia, Baikal Range, Lake Baikal
Activity: fishing, flyfishing in Baikal, small mountain lakes and rivers
Trip Category: special
Difficulty: easy, no need of special skill (kids from 14 years old are allowed).
Season: May-October.

     For the Russian people Lake Baikal is not just a lake, but natural treasure. Located in Siberia not far from the Mongolian border and surrounded by mountains, forests and wild rivers, Baikal is an immense and breathtaking area of natural beauty. Baikal holds twenty percent of the earth's fresh water and harbors more endemic species of plants and animals than any other lake in the world. Fed by 336 rivers and streams including the Angara, Barguzin, Selenga, Turka and Snezhnaya, the lake holds fifty species of fish including bullhead, sturgeon and omul. The surrounded mountain rivers and small lakes are inhabited by taimen (Siberian sturgeon), kharius (grayling), lenok (Siberian trout) and many others. Baikal is world's deepest lake: the maximal depth is 1,620 m. Baikal's volume, at 23,600 cu. km, is greater than any other fresh water lake. If you could drain Lake Baikal, it would take the Great Lakes of the U.S.: Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario to refill the empty basin!
     A glimpse into the lake's clear water is enough to convince anyone that nature not only exists in Siberia, it flourishes. The lake's surrounding wild mountains and rivers make the Lake Baikal region an ideal area for engaging in an array of outdoor activities including hiking, rock climbing, whitewater rafting, backcountry and alpine skiing, birdswatching, fishing, hunting and nature photography. There are also many regional cultural attractions. Today, as in the past, Baikal remains a crossroads of cultures where native Sayats still graze reindeers and Buryat people maintain many of their old traditions.

     In 1996, Lake Baikal was included in UNESCO World Heritage List.

     Lake Baikal area is considered as a real fishing paradise. You can fishing in Lake Baikal itself and in surrounded mountain streams and small lakes. Despite the fact you can enjoy more or less good fishing virtually everywhere on the lake, including Irkutsk suburbs, the best places are situated at the mid-Eastern shore and and Frolikha river and lake on the North-East shore, so we recommend go there. The 1st area involves very few hiking if any but can include underwater fishing, and the 2nd is a bit more adventurious (in fact it is trekking+fishing option). As a bonus, you can try hot spa in Chevyrqui Bay area (Var. 1) and on Cape Khakusi (Frolikha area, Var. 2)!

Variant 1. Lake Baikal Bay of Chevyrqui fishing (7 days, easy grade).

Species: grayling, lenok, pike, perch, taimen. Maximal trophy: 15 kg.

Note: the itinerary of above is draft and could be ajusted following weather, participant wishes etc. For example, the Chevyrqui agenda might be reduced by 1 day in favour of Barguzin Valley..

Cost: for an offer.

Included: meeting/seeing off at the airport, transfer hotel-airport, transportation Irkutsk - lake port - Irkutsk (bus), sea-class speedboat rental, GH and hut accommodation on fishing, Russian bania, 3 times a day hot meals on fishing, small motorboat for fishing rental, guide, English translator, cook service, 1 night hotel accommodation in Irkutsk, insurance.

Not included: visa expences, flight to/from Irkutsk, personal gear, excursions in Irlutsk.

Options: visa support, gear rental, SGL accommodation, 4* or 5* accommodation in Irkutsk, extra excursions (Irkutsk cititour, Lake Baikal museum in Listvianka and the Museum of wooden architecture are recommended, extra nights in Irkutsk, extra fishing days.

Variant 1a. Lake Baikal Bay of Chevyrqui fishing (7 days, easy grade).

Species: grayling, lenok, pike, perch, taimen. Maximal trophy: 15 kg.

Note: the itinerary of above is draft and could be ajusted following weather, participant wishes etc. For example, the Chevyrqui agenda might be reduced by 1 day in favour of Barguzin Valley..

Cost: for an offer.

Included: meeting/seeing off at the airport or railway station, transfer hotel-airport, transportation Ulan Ude - Ust-Barguzin (car or minibus), motorboat rental, fishing guide, English translator, cook service, 3 times a day hot meals on fishing, GH and hut accommodation on fishing, 1 night hotel accommodation in Ulan Ude.

Not included: visa expences, flight to/from Ulan Ude, personal gear, excursions.

Options: gear rental, SGL accommodation, changing arrival/departure place to Irkutsk, extra excursions (Ivolginskiy Datzan - Buddhist Monastery with the Living Mummy of Buddhist high prist is recommended), extra nights in Ulan Ude or Ust Barguzin, extra fishing days.

Variant 2. Frolikha lake and river (8 days, short easy grade hiking included).

Species: grayling, lenok, pike, perch, davatchan (endemic specie of Baikal area!).

Cost: for an offer.

Included. Meeting, seeign off and transfers in Irkutsk, airfare Irkutsk-Nizhneangarsk, transfer Nizhneangarsk-Severobaikalsk, motoboat for Severobaikalsk - Aya Bay and Cape Khakusi-Severobaikalsk sailing, Severobaikalsk-Irkutsk hydrofoil tickets, 1 night hotel or guesthouse accommodation in Severobaikalsk, 2 nights hotel accommodation in Irkutsk (***DBL BB), trekking and fishing guide, 3 times a day hot meals and tent (2 person tents) accommodation on active part, all permits and local fees.

Not included. Visa fees, airfare or railroad (Transsiberian) to/from Irkutsk, meals at the cities, personal gear.

Options. Visa support, gear rental, SGL accommodation, excursions in Irkutsk (Baikal museum and Mineralogical museum in Sludianka are recommended).

• you can combine both trips into one (2 weeks trip). us for an offer! ;
• you can arrive to Severonaikalsk and departure from it via railroad (4 days railway trip from Moscow via Transsiberian railroad and BAM (Baikal-Amur Railroad), or 2 days railroad trip from Novosibirsk via BAM);
• any tailor-made trips are possible! Just us for an offer!