Taimen (Hucho taimen) Range: Mongolia and Siberia (North-Central Asia) Habitat: Large, flowing, cool rivers with deep pools Food: Primarily Rodents (Rabbits, lemmings, prarie dogs, rats) and fishes Size: Commonly over 50 pounds (22 kgs) and 50 inches (1.3 m) , up to 231 pounds (105 kgs) and 7 feet (2.1 m) One of the largest, if not the largest of the Salmonid family, the taimen resembles a stretched out rainbow trout on steroids. Primarily an ambush predator, the taimen waits at the bottom of pools at the end of rapids for any hapless mammal or bird which has washed into the stream, which it will engulf.  It is very long lived, and like the flathead catfish or sturgeon, sizes of captured specimens will decrease with time as fishing pressure increases if catch and release is not exercised.  Tactics (if you are lucky enough to ever end up in central Asia) include using decapitated rodents on very large hooks (13/0) and drifting the bait through a likely pool, or employing a large (14"+) lure that resembles a drowned rodent.