Ron Rothenberger or 1 Weight.
You may know Ron from his summer exploits north of the border with the great adventurer Brian Foley. You may know 1 Weight for his winter fishing posts on the Farmington in Connecticut. Or you may know 1 Weight for some of his provocative posts. Rest assured that all of these things bring great value to FFIM. However, I've gotten to know Ron and his wife Emily because of their kindness and generosity to myself and FFIM and that my friends in invaluable. Ron, much like Tom and Don, is a humble guy. One who doesn't necessarily embrace the spotlight but will kindly move aside so that it shines on others. It's my privelage to know him and now I'd like you all to meet Ron Rothenberger.
Tell us a little about yourself.
A little bit about myself? I grew up in extreme Western NY state, about 90 miles SW of Buffalo, the snow belt area, in a small lake town of 500 people where I met my wife Emily while we were both working at a ski area. We've been married 33 years and live with our Golden Retriever Kelly in Mid-coast Maine. I make my living as a contract lineman specializing in catenary, transmission, and storm restoration. A job that has given me the opportunity to work and travel all over the country and fish some pretty great places while enjoying what I do.
What do you consider your home stream?
My home stream? That’s a tough one. I have to say the Mad River in Vermont. That’s where I really began my love affair with fly-fishing. Emily gave me an Orvis Far and Fine blank and all the fixings to put together a rod then. That developed my stroke and style. Which to this day is reflected in my new love of cane rods.
What's your favorite fly?
Another tough question. I love the hammering strike when stripping streamers. But then that ever so subtle, almost imperceptible take of a midge. You know that take, the one you're not sure even was one. But probably the pattern that made me comfortable with tying and catching fish on my own flies, is the Vermont Hares Ear Caddis. A shop owner in Vermont by the name of Farrow Allen showed me this pattern. At the time, Emily and I were just starting out and I was collecting returnable's from ski area parking lots to support my fishing habit. I’d buy one fly and take it apart to learn how to tie it. It's an easy tie with minimal material and you trim the hackle so you don't need wicked expensive hackle. Great pattern for the beginner and the fish love it whether it be fished dead drift, skittered or allowed to sink and twitched back at the end of the drift. Fish love caddis.
Red Sox or Yankees?
Red Sox or Yankee? Red Sox! I do recall being an impressionable kid and forced to wear a Yankee cap once. For about forty years after that I hated wearing caps!
Brook Trout or LL Salmon
Brook Trout. They’re just beautiful and the area's they call home are also extraordinary.
What's your most memorable fly-fishing experience?
My most memorable fly-fishing experience? That would have to be catching my first trout on a fly rod. It was on Profile Lake in the shadow of the Old Man of The Mountains with a # 14 black fur ant on the beginner outfit. Once I had him on, I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to reel him in or strip him in. A real trophy, a 5" wild Brook Trout.. I believe I only caught 1 more trout on a spinning rod after that. I was hooked for life.
How did you come to find FFIM?
I can remember doing a search for fly-fishing information in Maine while somewhere in a motel room. I lurked for a couple of years before joining and making my first post. Finally found the courage to post and the rest is history as they say, along with some fine friendships.
Given a choice would you rather spend a day fly-fishing with Don Lynch or a night with Halle Barry?
This is easy. Don Lynch hands down. Just a fantastic individual. Besides, I already have the woman of my dreams.
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