Everyone that fishes a water enough creates a special bond with that water, it fish, its wildlife and all its surroundings. You begin to enjoy just being in its presence and enjoying its company. Fishing becomes an excuse to just be there.  Over the past 10 years I have develop this kind of bond with a local water that I call my home water. I have spent countless days walking its banks, studying its attitudes and chasing it fish. This past spring I was happy to see a few of my favorite fish, made it through the long hard Utah winter.  One fish in particular caught my eye this past spring. His name is Rip, he got his name because part of his right lip is ripped off. (Probabley by some careless angler) I have caught Rip at least 10 times in the past three years. Being one of the average fish in the area Rip was always a sucker to a well presented dry fly. From 2009 to 2010 Rip had gained an inch finally reaching, I would say his full potential at a true 20 inch Brown. With this added length must have brought some of that 20 inch trout wisdom, because as I fished this area Rip eluded me. I hoped he hadn’t died, be caught and miss handled or just found a new section of river. Then on a rainy overcast afternoon, as I was fishing my way up the run. I reached the head where the larger fish lay claim.  On my first cast I watched as a beautiful brown slowly rose to my para BWO. I set the hook and the fish was on. It fought hard pulling me deep and then trying to take me down the rapids. After two desperation leaps Rip had come to my hand once again. It was great to see that my old friend was doing alright and that he now laided claim to some of the best water in the area. Over the next two trips I was able to hook and land Rip each time on a para BWO in the same area. Each time after I landed Rip I knew my day was complete and that I could break off my flies and head home in respect to this great fish and friend.

First Trip:

Second Trip:

Third Trip

Rips beaten, but better half