There are loud dreams — about skyscrapers, millions, and big cities. Then there are quiet ones, smelling of the river, dawn, and the cold waters of the Irtysh. Alexander Mirny is a Master of Sports and Kazakhstan's champion in spinning, an entrepreneur, and the founder of the fishing community FM (Fishmania). His story is not just about business. It's about character. About a boy who skipped school for the river and a man who once decided, "I will do what I love."
And it's a story of how a bank loan can help make a dream come true.
— Alexander, share with us how it all began? How long have you been passionate about fishing?
— Honestly, it began just like most anglers — in childhood. We skipped school, ran to the Irtysh, fished our first catch without thinking about time or consequences. These were pure, genuine feelings of happiness: the first bite, the first catch, that very moment when you suddenly realize that nature responds to you. These emotions, once experienced, remain within forever.
Then, like for everyone, adult life begins. After twenty, there's a pause because you need to study, start a family, earn a living, take on responsibilities. Fishing fades to the background for a while, but it can never truly disappear from life. It's nearly impossible to part with such a passion for long because it lives deep within.
Over time, I returned to it. In Pavlodar, we have an amazing embankment. It's a place to go after a workday, stand by the water and calmly fish for zander. This continued in my life for almost ten years. During that time, I tried different directions, various activities, searched for my professional place. But alongside, there was always one question: what do I really want to do for the rest of my life? The answer was surprisingly simple — fishing.
I understand the gear, feel the process, but the main thing is that I love the atmosphere of it. And at some moment everything seemed to align into a single picture: if it brings me genuine joy, why not try to make it my life's work.
That's how the idea of opening a fishing store came about. It started small. Today it's grown into a chain, but at its core is still that childhood feeling — standing by the water, knowing you're where you belong.
— Besides the business, you are actively involved in the fishing community. What is especially important to you?
— You know, I'm proud not only of the store. We achieved something important for the entire fishing environment of the region, we managed to change the fishing ban periods.
For many years in Pavlodar, the ban was from May 15 to June 20. But it was illogical. Spawning happens during flooding, when the water rises, stays for a couple of weeks, and then recedes. It's precisely at this moment that fish multiply. And here's the paradox: during the actual spawning, there was no effective ban. People fished with anything — nets, forks. And when the water receded and spawning concluded, the official ban started. This went on for over a decade.
We began raising the issue. We wrote petitions, communicated with the fishing inspection, collected signatures. When Akim of the region was Skakov Abylkair, we repeatedly held meetings, formed commissions, involved the public.
In the first year, we didn't achieve results — we lacked signatures. However, in the second year, an initiative group joined us. Special mention should be made of Tatyana Petrovna Titorenko's and Elena Valeryevna Kondratenko's active work and principled stance. Thanks to joint efforts, we managed to collect a substantial number of signatures.
This event was a real victory. People applauded. The joy was genuine. But I always emphasize: it's a collective effort. From anglers, inspectors, and the akimat. We simply weren't afraid to start.
– The winter fishing season has ended. How do you prepare for it, and in what events do you participate? After all, you are not only a sportsman, but also an organizer.
Winter fishing is a special philosophy. Ice, frost, silence. They are completely different sensations. Preparing for it requires diligence: gear, clothing, safety, ice knowledge. There are no trifles here.
I used to actively participate in official competitions organized by the Fishing Federation. I'm a Master of Sports in spinning, Kazakhstan's champion. For me, sport has always been an important part of life. It's about discipline, character, responsibility. But since the store opened, my mode of participation has changed. Today I am more an organizer and sponsor of competitions. It's crucial for me not just to fish myself but to create opportunities for others.
We host our own tournaments. One of the largest is the FMCUP. At the time, it was the biggest tournament in Kazakhstan: representatives from 16 cities participated, and fishermen came from Russia. All fees were directed towards forming the prize pool, we attracted partners and sponsors, including providing prizes from our store. The tournament lasted two days, with a prize fund exceeding three million tenge.
It wasn't just a competition — it was an event for the entire fishing community. Another project of ours is the annual «Zander FM» tournament for zander fishing. Its uniqueness lies in the "catch-and-release" format. Fish are measured, results recorded, and released back into the water. As it turned out, we were the first to implement this format not only in Kazakhstan but in Russia as well. After us, this practice was adopted by Omsk fishermen and continued to spread further.
— For those far from fishing, what is its main secret? Why is it so captivating?
— You can talk about fishing endlessly, because everyone who has truly experienced it describes it differently. But if I had to highlight the main thing, it would probably be the feeling of solitude — a rare, almost forgotten state of inner calm in modern life.
We live in a densely accelerated rhythm: professional obligations, family responsibilities, constant decision-making, meeting expectations. The urban environment with its noise and tension gradually accumulates fatigue, not just physical but emotional. And at some point, a person needs a space where they can stop, literally slow down their breathing.
When you leave for the river, turn off your phone and stay on the shore, an amazing thing happens: you start hearing yourself. Fishing in this sense isn't about the number of catches or trophy specimens. It's about a state where you rebuild your internal balance.
I am convinced that a man constantly bears responsibility for his family, for his loved ones. This responsibility inevitably ties to continual tension. And the ability to retreat from this pressure, to engage in a quiet, almost meditative dialogue with nature, is necessary.
A fishing rod in hand, the frosty air in winter, or morning mist in summer, the gentle ripple on the water — all these create a special state, difficult to describe in words, but once experienced, impossible to forget. This is why fishing is not a trendy hobby or seasonal trend.
And perhaps all this pushed me to not just make fishing part of my life, but the foundation of my professional path.
— Is this how the idea of your store came about?
— Yes, although the path to this decision was not instantaneous. Initially, it was a modest rented space, where we gradually built our audience, formed trust and reputation. The store became not just a point of sale, but a place of communication, a space where people came not just for gear but for advice, for sharing experiences, for a sense of belonging to a community.
However, in 2019, the situation confronted us with a tough choice: either buy the premises or vacate them. For an entrepreneur, especially in the formative stages of business, such a choice means not just change of address — it's a risk of losing a customer base.
We didn't have the free funds to purchase. So I decided to approach Nurbank. On a friend's recommendation. Through the "Damu" fund's mass entrepreneurship support program, we managed to secure financing on favorable terms — at 6% (APRC 6.2%).
For me, this was a turning point. We managed to retain the location and customers. Later, in May 2025, thanks to another round of financing from Nurbank, we acquired a spacious premises of over 300 square meters where the Fishmania store is located today. This is a different scale — an opportunity to fully present the assortment, to expand the equipment and gear line.
— As an entrepreneur, how do you perceive lending: as a necessity or as a growth tool?
I view credit as merely a tool. In itself, it isn't a boon or a threat; it depends on how and for what purpose it is used. An entrepreneur, without doubt, always assesses risks: interest burden, inflation, potential market fluctuations. However, in my case, the credit ensured stability — securing a location, avoiding rental dependency, and building an asset that later increased in value. I acquired the premises for 22 million tenge and realized it for 30 million after fulfilling obligations. Yes, there was an interest burden. But strategically, the business gained stability and growth.
If an entrepreneur lacks substantial startup capital, credit can become a rational scaling mechanism. The key is to calculate everything correctly.
— Did your wife also use credit support?
— Yes, and this experience was equally illustrative. She had a small hair salon near our home. Gradually, a team formed, a stable client base, trust. It became evident that further growth required expansion.
Having had a positive experience with Nurbank, we again sought financing under the "Damu" fund program. The decision coincided with the pandemic period. Of course, opening a salon during COVID came with serious concerns. However, today, over five years later, the salon operates steadily. And this step confirmed: measured lending can be a foundation for development, even amidst external uncertainties.
— What crisis stages were most challenging for you?
— Certainly, the pandemic. A half-year halt in activities, lack of clear regulations, closed borders, block posts — all these created a sense of total uncertainty. At that time, fishing ceased to be a priority for most people. Yet, during this period, we concentrated on maintaining an online presence on Insta. Active work in social media, regular product reviews, maintaining audience contact, all helped keep interest in the brand alive. Today, Fishmania is known not only in Kazakhstan but also beyond its borders.
It's also noteworthy that our Pavlodar region was visited multiple times by top Russian fishing bloggers and the world spinning champion Dmitry Shabalin. They shot several films about our Irtysh and Pavlodar, which aired on major Russian channels.
— What are your plans for the near future?
I intend to implement a project for a glass exhibition annex to the store — a space where boats, tents, and equipment are fully and openly presented. On this matter, I approached Nurbank again, as over the years, our collaboration has become systematic and trusting. In a longer-term perspective, there's an idea to establish a fishing base. Maybe within tourism support programs. But, as before, everything will build gradually.
— Can it be said that Nurbank invests not only in business but also in dreams?
— In a certain sense, yes. Because without timely financial support, many projects might remain mere intentions. For an entrepreneur, having a partner who doesn't just provide financing but truly builds partner relationships with clients is crucial. If you don't have a large capital backing, credit doesn't become a debt burden but an opportunity to move ahead. In this context, I truly see it as an investment in a dream.
JSC "Nurbank" operates based on license No. 1.2.15/193 dated February 3, 2020, issued by the Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Regulation and Development of the Financial Market.
Source:
https://bizmedia.kz/2026-04-16-mechta-v-kotoruyu-poverili-predprinimatelskij-put-s-nurbankom/