Can anyone comment on their experience with Rodgeeks Carbon 4 fly rod blanks?

I have built 4 of them. They are very similar to the SC4/2 blanks that St Croix used to sell, and still sell as their Imperial line of built rods. So similar, in fact the sections from equivalent Imperials fit on the Rood Geek Carbon 4 blank just fine. They have to be built on the same mandrels.

But anyway, the Imperials win just about everyone's shoot out of value rods because they are so good.

They are light, responsive, an excellent caster, and most of all come in great colors. I like the darker metallics-makes a great looking fly rod. But in virtually all cases, I recommend you spend the extra $15 to get the color upgrade. The paint job is really well done.

For comparison, last year I bought an Imperial 9 wt blank for $180 on sale, and this year bought a 9 weight Rod Geeks Carbon 4 in Metallic Copper for $146 and it's built into a great rod. All the rod sections are interchangable with the Imperial.

You can tell I really like them and plan to buy more. Highly recommended.

Drew

Bought an 8 weight at the show a few years ago. Use it for bonefish. It is a very nice rod and casts very well. It is not as overpowered as some rods, i.e the 8 weight CCS's between and eight and a nine. Also, broke the tip of this rod when I poked a shark in the head when he got too close. Shark went berserk, imagine that, and broke 2-1/2" off the tip. I contacted Rod Geeks and they were able to provide me a replacement tip at a very reasonable cost and in a timely manner. Their customer service is good and so are the blanks. Would recommend them to anyone.

I’ve built four or five rod geek fly rods as well. Two five weights, two eight weights and one nine. The paint job is awesome and I would 100% recommend the colored options. The rods cast very well and perform exceptionally well for the weights they are rated. I would say they are a bit lighter as previously mentioned. The 8wts both felt a hair on the light side. Perhaps more of a 7/8 then an 8 but I was not disappointed when it came to fighting salmon. They certainly held their own. Compared to a St.Croix I would agree they are extremely similar. I didn’t know the rod geek and imperial blanks would fit together.

I have also built some of their saltwater fishing rods and can say I have been impressed by all of their blanks. I don’t think you will be disappointed. My only recommendation is to consider possibly going a line size up from what you were planning on.

Shortly I will be ordering the 12wt for pacific lingcod and rockfish and I know again, I won’t be disappointed.

-Logan