In Pursuit of the Big One

A can of worms and a lazy creek may be enough to get some people hooked on fishing, but serious anglers need more of a challenge. Fishermen are taking off to the globe's remotest rivers for rod-and-reel battles that send the adrenaline rushing as fast as the water they're wading in. But wilderness trips are not for amateurs: "You need to go with an experienced outfit—some of these fish bite back hard," says Charles Jardine, a coach for England's national fly-fishing teams. Here are three of the most pristine—and challenging—locales:

RUSSIA The Kola Peninsula, which borders Norway, is an Atlantic salmon paradise. Trips with Fishingnorth kick off from Murmansk; cold war-era helicopters drop you and a guide on such remote rivers as the Pana. Most fishing spots have huts in case the Arctic weather turns nasty. tel: (46) 928 10088; www.fishingnorth.com

ZAMBIA Tiger fish may only weigh between 2 and 10 kg, but they're aquatic pit bulls with razor-sharp teeth and a fighting spirit that'll test the strongest angler. This is a dominant predator in several rivers, including the Upper and Lower Zambezi. Contact Go Fishing Worldwide, tel: (44-20) 8742 1556; www.gofishingworldwide.co.uk

MONGOLIA Communist-era neglect was good for Mongolia's rivers: they're some of the world's cleanest and home to the taimen, the largest salmonid in the world, which can grow up to nearly 2 m in length and weigh up to 70 kg. You'll need a nap in your yurt after trying to land one of these monsters, but don't think about fish steak—it's all about catch and release. Contact the Association of Mongolia Angling Guides at info@taimen.mn.