Grand Poobah, The Hooger in Charge, Chief Everything Officer, The Guy That Approves Time-Off, The IT Nerd That Built This Website, Dad, etc.

Devin J. Bokey

I’m a lifelong West Virginian who’s been one of the biggest trout nuts you can imagine. From learning how to catch a trout on my first horrendously rolled glob of PowerBait aka Playdoh to giving guided fly fishing trips and everything in between.

It didn’t matter, if there were trout in a mudpuddle, I was there, but my personal favorite type of fishing has always been chasing native brook trout up as remote of streams as possible. There’s always been something about getting away from civilization, politics, phone calls, etc., that just sits right with me. Being in places where you can just be a dang Hooger and not have a care in the world.

Am I a Hooger?

Well, I guess so.

Some folks would complain that I spin fish. Some folks would complain that I fly fish. Someone once told me center pinning was the devil. Ever notice, nobody bags on ice guys?

I used to just reserve the term Hooger for the guys that’d crowd in on you like you’re standing on the only rock on the river capable of catching a fish from. The guys that leave their trash behind like it’s some sort of territory marking ritual. The guys that say “Y’all catchin’ any?” as a means of breaking the ice to just slide on in and crowd you regardless of what answer you give back (From me, its usually just no answer), or my personal favorite “ThEy StAlK tOdAy?”. - I guarantee anyone that’s fished a day in their lives on WV STOCKED (emphasis on S.T.O.C.K.) water has heard those two phrases, and you know lead is about to fly across your line like a strafing run from an A-10 Warthog.

I’ve never quite understood the fight between users of a certain rod type. Even as a former fly fishing guide, I knew it was a matter of preference. It never should be who bought the most expensive gear. Your values and ethics should always outweigh the type of rod you use. What matters is that you like your gear and trust it to haul in the big one.

It’s easy to forget why you bought the rod type you did anyway. Sometimes, those who complain about other fisherman the most forgot more than that… I’ve noticed more than anything that folks have seemed to forget that they got into fishing because they enjoyed it, loved it, or became completely absorbed by it. It’s about having fun, getting outside, out-fishing your friends and keeping track like Gimli & Legolas from Lord of the Rings. When you lose sight of that, you’re not in a position to judge anyone else.

To some, it’s a competition… For me, it became a drive to learn more, to find ways to drift a jig or streamer right in front of a fat trout’s face and know without a shred of a doubt that he’s about to choke it down like a funnel cake from the county fair. That’s where my rods come in. I’ve burned through hundreds of box store rods… just about every brand label you can imagine. And you know what’s missing? They’re never tailored to you. The way you fish, the where you fish, the how you fish.

So get out there, to hell with what other people think. Grab the “Hooger” rod and be a degenerate, who cares.