Way down North Carolina Route 12 in the tiny village of Hatteras a tackle shop owner and custom fishing rod maker has placed a bet on President Trump. And it’s paying dividends.
I caught wind of it when I passed by his shop. On his roadside sign: “Custom Trump Rods.”
Inside, owner Steve Hissey was working on a 10-foot-long surf rod in red, white and blue.
“Hey Steve, what’s a Trump rod?” I asked, entering his shop and expecting him to tell me that it is just the name of a tackle company, like Penn or St. Croix.
Nope. He beckoned me over to his rod rack that held a few of the same red, white and blue rods like the one he was building and pointed to an oval sticker near the handle that said, “Trump 2020 Make Liberals Cry Again.”
He smiled and said, “When you’re in business, sometimes you need an edge. And this is my edge.”
Hissey has a well-deserved reputation for building quality rods. He’s been doing it for 40 years and is especially known for his diamond hourglass design made by crisscrossing colored thread above the rod handle.
He’s also known as a big Trump fan on an island of Trump fans. He even sells “Trump 2020” campaign hats. “I’m on my second order,” he said from the other side of a wooden bar in his shop where fishermen come to have a beer and tell stories.
“When you are in business, you’re not supposed to choose sides. But I guess I wear my heart on my sleeve,” he said.
On a “whim,” he started building his Trump rod about six weeks ago. He made two and they sold fast to a group of ex-cops. They asked him to outfit the rods with reels and line and, he said with a big smile, “It was $881 before they walked out the door.”
Word of the Trump rod spread so fast that he has a waiting list of paying customers. Most like his “Trump 2020 Make Liberals Cry Again” sticker under the rod’s finish. And as an added touch, he puts some 15 red and blue bands as decoration on the rods.
“I’m backed up 13 rods right now. I’ve been building rods for 42 years and I’ve never been backed up 13 rods,” said Hissey, his shop decorated with his fishing citations. “I deer hunt, but I’m probably not going to see a deer this year. I’m going to be looking at red, white, and blue through December.”
I asked Hissey what he sees in Trump and why he is sticking with him in the face of an impeachment investigation and overwhelming negative press.
“You know, Trump is a nutcase in a lot of ways, a big mouth.” But, he said, “The end result is what impresses me. There has been no president scrutinized more than Trump, ever. Nobody has gone through the crap he is going through. And some of it, yeah he deserves. Overall, in the end, he’s done a good job.”
Like many of Trump’s supporters, Hissey remains impressed with the president’s past business career and his willingness to take a risk, even in the Oval Office.
And he said that’s partially what pushed him to make the Trump rod despite having no idea if it would sell.
“People have to drive by 14 tackle shops before they get to me, so this really has been a Godsend for me to do this. And the good thing is that most of them put high-dollar reels on them, so that’s more money,” he said.
If word ever got to the president about his success, Hissey believes that Trump would be impressed.
“That’s the kind of thing he would like, he’s an entrepreneur, he’s a businessman, he would enjoy the fact that I’m doing this and making money. I think he would like it,” said Hissey, as he pulled out a long surfcasting rod to hold for a picture.
In fact, he’s considering sending the president a Trump rod once he fulfills his orders — and the latest controversies pass by.
“I’m thinking about sending a rod to him. I know he doesn’t fish but maybe he’d want one in the Oval Office. I’ve got to get caught up first, though. And right now I think he’s busy.”
