A small but pretty huchen above.
So what is a huchen?
Years ago, that would have puzzled most North Americans, fishermen or not. It is a salmonid that lives in the Danube basin. I first heard of them many years ago in this picture book I found in the library. I have been fascinated by huchen ever since. They are an apex predator there in the mountain rivers and grow to over 100 lbs. Their rarity, elongated looks and behavior make them similar to the role that muskies fill in North America. Intriguing at the time was that the fishery was mostly a winter fishery similar to winter steelhead in fast mountain rivers.
After seeing the book there was zero to be found until the web. Now there is more online than can be digested. Times have changed for fishing information. There are plenty of videos, etc where there used to be nothing since they were outside the English world. They were also behind the Iron Curtain for a while. A Clive Gammon piece (see here) was one of the few things I saw about them from that period.
One thing that puzzled me for years was how huchen is pronounced. I was calling them “who chen” but then I saw a Jeremy Wade episode* on them. He called them ‘huk ken” with a hard germanic K. I thought that was much better however I am not sure now. Anyone know?
With their close relatives, the taimen, they are thought to be the largest salmonid in the world. A comparison on them from a Russian site. Taimen were just a rumor until the Soviet Union opened up but I think Mongolia was the first place a fishery started.
This Wade episode was about fishing for them in Mongolia. Steve is a big Mongolia fan but I don’t think he fished for them there. Notice the scenery. I have heard it said that Mongolia is like Montana in the 1880’s. Another reason to fish taimen. They, and huchen, are a cult fish now with outfitting centered on them. Things have come a long way since I saw that book so long ago.