After yesterday's adventures catching them smallies on the fly I decided I need a custom fly rod. Right now I'm looking at a rainshadow rx7 6wt either a white or regular MHX 5wt, or a rodgeeks 5wt fly blank. The rainshadow is the cheapest but I don't like the green color. The geek rod I was gonna do copper, orange or white.

Leaning towards the geek or white MHX rod. Any suggestions it's gonna be a smallmouth creek rod.

I'd go geek! I'm gonna be doing an 11wt in light green metallic soon. Waiting on the reelseat now and planning the grip in my head.

I built a green Rainshadow and really like its looks.  Wrapped with a lighter shade of the same green with three orange single thread accents in the wrap, ending with three orange threads.  It really has a classy, traditional, look.

After yesterday's adventures catching them smallies on the fly I decided I need a custom fly rod. Right now I'm looking at a rainshadow rx7 6wt either a white or regular MHX 5wt, or a rodgeeks 5wt fly blank. The rainshadow is the cheapest but I don't like the green color. The geek rod I was gonna do copper, orange or white.

Leaning towards the geek or white MHX rod. Any suggestions it's gonna be a smallmouth creek rod.

What about the new RainShadow Revelation Fly? It is a Matte Black!

Rodgeek blanks are made by St Croix, and from all I've heard, are very nice blanks.  It sounds to me like appearance is a priority with you (as it is with me-if you are going to do a custom rod, and you can get really good blanks in about any color you want,  you might as well make it look as good as it performs,)  I have done matte black rods, and while they look good if done right, I really prefer glossy blanks for appearance.  A little detail that does make a difference, glossy finishes don't show minor screwups in applying the wrap finish as much as matte finish blanks do.

 

Rainshadow Immortals are a little pricey, but are wonderful performing and very classy looking with their gloss titanium chrome finish, a finish that goes with just about any color wrap.

 

I presume you're considering 4 piece.  I will build nothing else in fly rods now.  I don't believe there is a discernible action difference between 2 and 4, and the 4's travel so much better.

 

A new product that really makes sense on a fly rod is the Winn Grip.  Take a look at them and if there is a color that works, you may want to give them a try.  Better grip and comfort than any other material, IMHO.

Rodgeek blanks are made by St Croix, and from all I've heard, are very nice blanks. It sounds to me like appearance is a priority with you (as it is with me-if you are going to do a custom rod, and you can get really good blanks in about any color you want, you might as well make it look as good as it performs,) I have done matte black rods, and while they look good if done right, I really prefer glossy blanks for appearance. A little detail that does make a difference, glossy finishes don't show minor screwups in applying the wrap finish as much as matte finish blanks do.

Rainshadow Immortals are a little pricey, but are wonderful performing and very classy looking with their gloss titanium chrome finish, a finish that goes with just about any color wrap.

I presume you're considering 4 piece. I will build nothing else in fly rods now. I don't believe there is a discernible action difference between 2 and 4, and the 4's travel so much better.

A new product that really makes sense on a fly rod is the Winn Grip. Take a look at them and if there is a color that works, you may want to give them a try. Better grip and comfort than any other material, IMHO.

I bought some Winn grip handles for a spinning build and absolutely hated them. They are sitting in a box in the attic now.

I wouldn't use them on a spin build, but like their fly grip on the lighter fly rods.  Everyone to his own taste.

RodGeeks are not a St. Croix product. They are made by Axiom NA,LLC. It is true that St. Croix is 50% owner in the facility and they designed the blanks, however RodGeeks is a stand alone company.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XZte4smLJk4