Honestly, it’s a bit of an inside joke. I’ve long stood for the belief that “ethics make the fisherman, not the rod” and just because you choose certain gear, it doesn’t make you a holier than thou person.

A friend asked me one time “are we bringing the Hooger rods?” before going fishing…

What that term equated to was “are we leaving the politics of fly vs spin and C&R vs catch & cook behind and just going to slam fish and not give a crap what anybody thinks”

That’s what it means. Go have fun, go fish, and don’t give a crap what others think.

Be an uncivilized Hooger, who cares.

Pre-builds are already constructed as part of a “Hooger Rod Co product line”. These allow for personalization such as lettering, additional wraps, decals, or add-ons.

Custom builds give you the full control of the rod blank itself, handle materials sizes and shapes, reel seat, eye style and spacing, thread wrap color and style to truly have a one-of-one rod unique to you.

I will soon be releasing a form on this website for information collection necessary to provide you with a quote on the spot, but currently please reach out to any of the contact points listed on the “Contact” tab or send me a direct message via social media.

This is currently handled on a case-by-case basis depending on the nature of your build. I will generally provide this information in a quote sent directly to you. An up-front payment to cover the cost of any on-demand sourced materials is typically collected with labor and shop costs charged at pickup/shipment.

Well first off, the company name speaks for itself. As a bit of a degenerate fish bum, I understand the common concerns with upgrading fishing equipment especially when it comes to pricing.

I pride myself in fairness and aim to meet the needs of all anglers, not just those with a certain budget.

Where else will you find a rod line unique to West Virginia?

You can reach me anytime via our contact page, email, or social media. I aim to respond quickly—usually within one business day unless of course I’m out “product testing” aka fishing myself.

It is the goal of my operation to provide lines of rods that meet the needs of as many groups of anglers as possible.

Obviously, the choice of components utilized in a rod will determine pricing for fully custom builds.

If you’re in doubt or on a set budget, please reach out and we’ll get a plan together. There is always give and take between rod performance and aesthetics.

Remember, the only stupid question is the one you don’t ask.

Typically, I prefer to speak directly with you and play a game of ‘20 Questions’ to ensure that we are on the same page and ready to put your vision into reality.

I can be as communicative or as “surprise me” as you’d like. This is your equipment. You call the shots. I’m just the old hooger that slaps them together.

This depends on the circumstances.

I will typically give you an idea when planning the rod and will follow up with estimates as to the rod’s progress.

Some materials like acrylic require a lengthy delicate process of being turned down on a lathe. This would take longer than fitting a complete handle for example.

You be the judge. Drop me a message.