Our latest interviewee in the Countryside Conversations blog series is with Marina Dombaj (née Gibson) - fly fishing guide, casting instructor, conservationist, author, and founder of the Northern Fishing School.
At G&G, we share Marina's commitment to country and sporting traditions and the role they play today. We first connected through our mutual support of the Atlantic Salmon Trust, working with Marina on the launch of our G&G Salmon Needlepoint Belt, from which 15% of sales are donated to the Trust's work protecting wild Atlantic salmon.
Since then, we've admired her commitment to protecting our rivers and promoting sustainable angling.
After leaving a successful career in the city to pursue her passion full-time, Marina has built an impressive career that combines education, conservation, and adventure. As founder of the Northern Fishing Co, she introduces hundreds of people to fly fishing each year. She's also a Trustee and Advisory for River Action UK, working to tackle water pollution's threat to fishing, and co-founder of the Cancer and Pisces Trust.
In our conversation, Marina talks about her move from city life to the riverbank, why conservation and community matter to her, her travels with a fly rod, and what's next for her on the River Tyne and beyond.
You learned to fish as a child - can you tell us what first hooked you into the sport? Was it a particular memory, a person, or a special place by the river that sparked your love for fishing, and how did those early experiences shape the way you engage with the sport today?
I was incredibly lucky to grow up in a family where fishing was simply part of life. Some of my earliest memories are of being outdoors with my parents, brother and friends on rivers in the Scottish Highlands. I remember being fascinated not just by catching fish, but by everything around it: the wildlife, the little pieces of memorabilia I’d find along the riverbank to take home, and the people we shared those trips with. And of course, being outdoors with our dogs was a huge part of it too - I was always a big dog lover growing up. There wasn’t one single moment that hooked me; it was the accumulation of those childhood experiences, and the connection to the outdoors. I honestly don’t think I would have discovered it for myself in my early twenties if I hadn’t grown up surrounded by the water and all those incredible experiences.
You left city life to pursue fishing. What was the turning point for you, and what did you find most difficult and most rewarding about making that change?
I spent years working in London in 9-5 jobs, and while it was exciting in many ways, I increasingly realised I was happiest when I was fishing at the weekends. Leaving that world behind was definitely daunting. The most difficult part was stepping away from security and a very structured career path into something much less predictable. There’s always uncertainty when you decide to follow passion over convention. But the rewards have been immeasurable. Fishing has allowed me to meet people from all walks of life, travel to incredible places, and spend my days connected to places I care deeply about.
Photo credit: @flyfishingnation
A few years ago, you've took on the exciting challenge of running your own beat at Bywell Salmon Fishing, a stunning stretch of the River Tyne. Can you talk us through what has been most rewarding about managing the beat so far? Are there particular experiences with guests, memorable moments on the river, or ways you've seen the fishery thrive that stand out to you?
Running the beat at Bywell has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. The River Tyne is a special river, and it’s a privilege to help steward a stretch with so much history and natural beauty. What I’ve enjoyed most is creating an environment where people feel welcome and genuinely connected to the river. Some guests arrive with decades of fishing experience, while others are picking up a rod for the very first time. Watching someone catch their first salmon, or even simply fall in love with being on the river is incredibly rewarding. We’re also lucky to have the best ghillie working for us - Steven Keeney. Born and bred in Northumberland, he’s fiercely proud of his roots and absolutely loves a good peas pud sandwich. Whatever you do, though, don’t ask him what that is - he’ll be horrified that you don’t already know!
Above: Marina fishing on the River Ure, Yorkshire from our 2026 Charity Countryside Calendar - photo by @flyfishingnation
You co-founded the Cancer & Pisces Trust - what inspired that, and what difference have the sessions made to your clients?
The Cancer & Pisces Trust was inspired by a belief that time spent in nature and by water can have a genuinely healing effect. Fishing offers space to breathe, reflect, and reconnect with yourself, especially during periods of illness, grief, or recovery. We wanted to create opportunities for people affected by cancer to experience that therapeutic side of angling in a welcoming and supportive environment. Many people who attend our sessions have never fished before, so it’s often not about catching fish at all - it’s about confidence, calmness, companionship, and escapism. The feedback we’ve received has been incredibly moving. People often tell us the sessions helped them feel more like themselves again, gave them a sense of peace, or simply provided a day where they could stop thinking about hospitals and treatment. Seeing the positive impact that fishing can have on wellbeing has been hugely rewarding. If you would like to know more please visit: www.cancerandpiscestrust.org
Photo credit: @flyfishingnation
Your memoir Cast, Catch, Release tells a deeply personal story and contributes to your advocacy for women in angling. What did you hope readers would take away from it, and have you received any feedback that has particularly stayed with you?
When I wrote Cast, Catch, Release, I wanted to tell an honest story about identity, belonging, and the role fishing has played throughout my life, as well as the inspiring journey of the Atlantic salmon. I also wanted to challenge some of the outdated perceptions around who belongs in angling. I hoped readers, whether they fish or not, would connect with the themes in the book. I've had feedback from people in all kinds of different situations. I still receive emails and messages about the book now, and it genuinely makes me so happy to hear how deeply it has resonated with readers. Whether it’s encouraging someone to try fishing for the first time, helping them feel they belong in spaces they once found intimidating, or connecting with the mental health and personal journey aspects of the memoir.
As an advocate for saving wild salmon and an ambassador for the Atlantic Salmon Trust, among many other roles, what do you see as the most pressing threats to salmon and river health today?
Wild salmon are facing enormous pressures, and unfortunately there’s no single issue we can point to. Climate change, rising temperatures, habitat degradation, pollution, barriers to migration, and pressures at sea are all contributing to declining salmon populations. I think one of the biggest challenges is helping people understand that healthy salmon rivers are indicators of healthy ecosystems overall. If our rivers are struggling, it affects biodiversity, communities, and wildlife far beyond salmon alone. That’s why conservation work, scientific research, and education are so important. We need stronger protection for rivers, better water quality, habitat restoration, and greater public awareness. There’s still hope, but it requires collective action and long term commitment.
Photo credit: @flyfishingnation
What are you most excited about in the next year - do you have any projects or trips you can share with us?
I’m excited to continue growing the work we’re doing at Bywell Salmon Fishing, The Northern Fishing Co, Cancer and Pisces Trust, and to spend more time introducing new people to fishing through guiding and events. I’m also looking forward to a few fishing adventures abroad. Travel has always been one of the most inspiring parts of angling for me, because every river, landscape, culture and cuisine teaches you something new and offers a completely different perspective on the sport. We are hosting trips to Italy (September), the Seychelles (December), and Oman (December) this year, and I absolutely love sharing those experiences with others, so if anyone ever wants to know more about those trips, I’m always happy to chat about them.
More than anything though, I really want to spend more time fishing for myself again.
Supporting small, rural businesses feels like a natural extension of the values you champion. How important is that to you, and are there makers or brands - whether in fishing or beyond - whose work you find yourself returning to again and again?
I’ve always been drawn to smaller brands that value quality and sustainability over fast consumption. That’s actually how I first connected with G&G - through the Atlantic Salmon Trust needlepoint collection - and what an epic design and brilliant initiative that was from you, Tiggy, and the AST team. Pacu looks so smart in his collar, and I absolutely love the belt I use on my waders. I’m so grateful that I get to work with people and brands like you who care so much about conservation and supporting charity work.
Above: Marina's Dog Pacu in the Salmon Needlepoint Collar
Photo credit: @flyfishingnation
Finally, what would your advice be to readers who feel inspired to pick up a rod and start fishing?
Just start - and don’t feel intimidated. Fishing can seem complicated from the outside, but it’s simply about spending time outdoors and learning gradually through experience. You don’t need expensive equipment or expert knowledge to begin. Find a local club, guide, or friend who can help you get started, ask questions, and allow yourself to enjoy the process rather than focusing purely on catching fish. Your casting will improve, your knowledge will grow enormously, and before long you’ll be catching fish with confidence.
Photo credit: @flyfishingnation
