The FishStix Story

Handmade inshore fishing rods, built in Texas since 2014.

Built for Anglers Nationwide

From the flats of the Gulf Coast to the tidal marshes of the Carolinas, FishStix rods are in the hands of serious anglers up and down the coast. Every rod is handcrafted to perform — no mass-production shortcuts, just premium components and precision builds designed for the conditions you actually fish.

Whether you're chasing redfish in Louisiana, snook in Florida, or trout on the Texas flats, there's a FishStix rod built for where you fish.

A born fisherman from East Texas

Hunter Welch was a born fisherman. Now don't get us started about a guy named Hunter who's a fisherman — we'll leave that one alone for the time being.

Hailing from the heart of East Texas, Hunter and his twin brother are true-blue fishing fanatics, born and raised with rods in their hands. They spent their childhood reeling in fish from any body of water they imagined fish might call home.

Then destiny cast its line in Bolivar, Texas, and Hunter got hooked on saltwater fishing. His soon-to-be father-in-law showed him the ropes — and that was that. Hunter was all in, determined to master the trade and build himself the perfect inshore fishing rod.

From a kitchen table to the Houston Fishing Show

Hunter and his wife Liz settled in Bayou Vista after she graduated from UT Tyler, and that's when things got really interesting. Hunter's rod-making hobby turned into a full-on obsession — building rods that make fishermen tremble with excitement and fish tremble in fear. He found the name on a quiet morning: FishStix.

In 2014, FishStix became official. It started as a side gig while Hunter juggled school and being a stay-at-home dad to his two little anglers. He took his rods to the Bay City on the Square monthly market, where folks set up shop and sell their goods. Three customers on his first day. Three more next month. He kept casting the line.

In March 2015, he got the big break — the Houston Fishing Show. That's when FishStix caught a netful of attention and hooked loads of folks who wanted a rod built for the way they actually fished.

Two principles, every rod

Two things define the FishStix brand: our Texas roots and an unwavering commitment to quality. The Texas roots came easy. The quality took years of relentless work.

Every FishStix rod is handcrafted, not assembled, not mass-produced. Premium components. A disciplined build process. Nothing leaves the shop that Hunter would not fish with himself. Each rod is shaped by time on the water, tested by professional guides and recreational anglers, and refined by real fishermen feedback in a variety of conditions and fishing situations.

The result is a rod built for performance, not for a price point. Sensitivity in the tip when the bite turns subtle, balance in the blank so you can fish all day without fatigue, and durability built for the Texas Gulf Coast.

Built for the way you fish

FishStix rods are designed for inshore saltwater anglers — wade fishermen working the flats, anglers throwing into marsh drains, and coastal boaters chasing redfish, speckled trout, and flounder. Our spinning rods and baitcast rods cover everything from finesse presentations with light soft plastics to throwing topwaters across an early-morning bay.

Whether you're picking up your first inshore rod or adding a specialist to your collection, we'll help you find the right setup. Browse our spinning rods, baitcast rods, or read the buyer's guide to find the FishStix built for the way you fish.

The team behind the rods

What started at a kitchen table now ships rods to anglers and shops across the Gulf and Southern Atlantic coasts. Behind the brand is a leadership team that pairs founder-built product with the operating and commercial discipline of a serious retail partner.

Hunter Welch

Founder and Chief Product Officer
Hunter is the builder behind every FishStix rod. Born and raised in East Texas, he learned the craft on the Bolivar flats and started FishStix at his kitchen table in Bayou Vista in 2014. Today he leads product development, custom builds, and the supplier and component relationships that put a FishStix rod in your hands. Every blank, every guide spec, every grip carries his sign-off.

Philip Houston

President and Chief Executive Officer
Philip brings a track record of starting, owning, and operating successful businesses across multiple industries, along with a genuine enjoyment of investing in new ventures and the people behind them. He’s proud to be part of the FishStix community, drawn to the same spirit of building something worthwhile.

Choia Mattix

Head of Sales and Marketing
Choia leads sales and marketing for FishStix. An avid angler and outdoorsman, he has spent over two decades building consumer brands. Now, he is helping build FishStix, a brand that he relies on in his own pursuits.

Where we are headed.

FishStix is built on three words Hunter learned early and repeats often: trust, respect, and honor. They are the standard for how we treat our customers, our suppliers, our retail partners, and the family we have built along the way. The mission is simple. Put a FishStix rod in the hands of every serious inshore angler in America, through the tackle shops, specialty retailers, and pro-shop walls that know what a real rod looks like when they pick one up.

Cast your line. Reel them in. Join the FishStix family.

— Hunter Welch, Founder