All About The Northern Fishing School
The School
The Northern Fishing School is based at Swinton Estate, North Yorkshire and comprises a casting tuition lake, Leighton Reservoir, the Swinton River Ure and River Burn beats. Swinton Estate is a 20000 acre estate and home to Swinton Park Hotel, Swinton Bivouac and Swinton Country Club & Spa.
Marina Gibson who founded the school in 2019 wants to introduce as many people as possible to the magic of fishing – whatever their age – as the fun, affordable, perfect antidote to stress and the best way to escape the daily grind.
The school's mission is to get many more people out fishing as possible and to make it feel like an inclusive sport. Fishing gets you off the sofa, away from tech and into the fresh air away, breaking from the normal day-to-day routine. Fishing days are all consuming, from planning your trip to downloading the experiences from the day. It’s brilliant for families – young children can pick up fishing quickly and with it learn how important our eco systems.
Swinton Park Estate
Swinton Estate in North Yorkshire near Ripon is a 20000 acre estate and home to Swinton ParkHotel, Swinton Bivouac and Swinton Country Club & Spa.
Swinton Estate has fishing for wild brown trout, grayling and salmon along its 4 miles of single bank River Ure, and the River Burn has over 6 miles of double bank. Leighton reservoir, also on the Estate, is stocked with rainbow trout. For guests staying on the Estate, Swinton Park Hotel is well equipped with fly rods and flies, jackets, waders, coarse rods – and a drying cupboard for those caught out in the elements! Day permits are £25, and guided days are available through the school.
The River Ure is a typical “freestone” Dales river and fish can be caught with a wide variety of fly-fishing styles. The most famous style in these parts is the use of traditional Yorkshire Spiders. However, other methods such as dry fly, wet fly, upstream nymph and Czech nymphing can all be used to great effect.
The Northern Fishing School Office & Shop is located at Swinton Estate, opposite the Terrace Restaurant, please email us northernfishingschool@gmail.com if you'd like to pop in and say hello.
Meet Our Fly Fishing Instructors
Marina Gibson
Marina started her coaching exams with the Angling Trust in 2014 and completed her Level 2 in 2017. She then went on to complete her Fly Fishers International CI exam in March 2018. Marina is a freelance writer who hosts trips worldwide and is a trustee for Cancer and Pisces Trust (see 'Our Courses' for more info) and River Action UK, a UK-based environmental charity committed to addressing the severe problem of river pollution, particularly that caused by agricultural and food industry practices.
Services: Masterclasses and Courses.
Benoit Albertini
Beni was born and raised in the Swiss Alps. From a young age he has always been fascinated by nature and outdoor activities. Beni has been a professional ski instructor and certificated sport trainer for ten years. He found a love for fishing in 2009 and this year he completed a fly-fishing guide course in Montana with Sweetwater Guide School to help achieve his goal of becoming a fly fishing guide. In addition, he loves to inspire young children to get involved in the outdoors and guide them in beautiful environments.
Services: Beginners Courses and Guiding.
Charlie Brownlow
Charlie Brownlow has been fishing in the UK for the last 35 years, catching his first salmon on the fly when he was 9 and has never looked back. He has been fortunate enough to fish many Scottish Salmon rivers with the Northern and Hebridean spate rivers being his fishing classroom as a boy and teenager. Charlie holds a level 2 angling trust coaches licence. For the last 12 years he has been providing guests to Scotland with unique sporting adventures through Charles Brownlow Ltd.
Services: Beginners Courses and Guiding.
Our Location
