For years I watched my husband get his fishing items ready to go to the river to enjoy a day salmon fishing.At that time our family lived in Conception Bay South. He fished on the Salmonier River leaving in the morning and returning in the evening.<br /> <br /> I made him egg sandwiches for his lunch.I delighted in his stories about his day on the river and the &acirc;��rush&acirc;�� he felt on catching a salmon.It was feeling like stories told by a friend&acirc;��s European travel holiday-you are excited for them but can&acirc;��t really imagine yourself in that particular place.<br /> <br /> In October 2010 we moved from St.John&acirc;��s to Humber Valley Resort.We had taken a short holiday to the west coast of Newfoundland and decided we wanted to live there.My husband was in his glee-only steps from our house to the Mighty Humber River!<br /> Again I watched him prepare his fishing items for his day on the river.After a few years he started suggesting that I join him for a day&acirc;��s salmon fishing.I laughed-me on the river was an idea that I could not even envision.To my mindset salmon fishing was a man&acirc;��s passion.<br /> <br /> I am not sure of the exact moment I decided to take up this wonderful sport.I would walk to the river to meet my husband at the end of the fishing day.While I waited on the riverbank I revelled in the beauty of the evening.I was blown away by the &acirc;��ballet&acirc;��of fishing lines cast in to the river.<br /> I decided to take the plunge and get a salmon licence.<br /> <br /> Getting the licence was the step one.I had to get&acirc;��geared up&acirc;��to go the river.I learned about the different types of fishing boots and waders.Salmon rods and reels were a whole other story. My husband had an extra Sage rod and reel that I could use so this worked out for me.Salmon flies almost require a post secondary study course.There are so many types of salmon flies it can boggle the mind.Bombers for deep water and flies for low water.There are dry flies and wet flies.Then there are the running lines on your rod and leader lines of different weights for different water types.<br /> <br /> My husband helped me with the basics before I got to the river.I was afraid of embarrassing myself so at the beginning I did take the whole process slowly.Getting from the bank to &acirc;��out where the fish are&acirc;��was another step for me.The current is strong and the river bed is rocky.I learned to take a river stick with me which helps with my balance getting out into the water.<br /> <br /> And then there is casting-getting that line out there to where the salmon are waiting.It is an art and one that I am still working on accomplishing.I have come a long way in two seasons and now am not afraid to cast that line as far as I can do so.<br /> <br /> Salmon fishing is a sport that is not quickly learned(to my mind)It requires a hell of a lot of patience.<br /> It does require some knowledge of how it works-how the river bed lies, where the salmon hold up, currents and water temperatures-it is not just a matter of putting that rod and line out there in the water.<br /> <br /> I am so glad I decided to become a salmon angler.I go to the river when I can.The majority of fisher people are men but I have learned that this is not a big factor being in the minority as a woman angler.I did catch(and released)my first salmon a few weeks ago.An older experienced male angler on the river shouted out to me&acirc;��Well Done!&acirc;��<br /> I have learned that waiting for that salmon to take the hook has taught me to stop and take a look around.I have been so busy in my life working and raising a family.It gives me time to take in the beauty of the river, the different birds and animals that live around the river bank.<br /> <br /> It has taught me a little bit more about myself.<br /> <br />   Submitted By: Martina Dunne