For just over 10 years, Qualifly Reels have been winning over fly fishers looking for exceptionally engineered and unique reels. Their fully machined reels are all feature rich and are backed by the customer service of the designer himself. New for 2023 is the Impact, a big game reel that comes in sizes 6/8, 9/10, and 11/12.
For the last month I’ve been fishing the 6/8, and can confidently say that it is a reel suited for any and all heavy warmwater and light saltwater situations you might encounter. This particular model gives the angler everything needed for bass, pike, or carp in a lightweight reel. It also serves in saltwater applications, such as chasing schoolie stripers (and larger), flawlessly.
The sealed drag is adjustable up to a virtually locked-tight level of tension. While the top end of this feature may never be used in normal angling settings, it illustrates the stopping capability of the Impact. The drag has the power to slow hard-fighting fish, and has the variability to allow for your preferred stripping level. The outbound sound is a quiet, subtle click and the retrieve is silent.
The Impact’s stats are well within the standard range for reels rated for similar use. Again, I have been fishing with the 6/8. It weighs just over 7.5 ounces and has a diameter just under 4 inches. It isn’t heavy, but it is substantial. It doesn’t have an enormous and outsized arbor, either. It feels perfectly proportional and balances well on the 6- and 8-weight rods with which it was paired. Subjectively, I’d gauge it as a slightly larger 6-weight reel and a slightly smaller 8-weight reel. But once more: it feels proportional and excels from a performance standpoint in both circumstances.
Aesthetically the Impact is impressive. Turquoise and black accents on a polished silver frame make for a very attractive reel. The BMX spoke-inspired design creates a frame and spool that feel solid while minimizing weight. This is where Qualifly’s founder and designer Joe Banik’s aerospace background benefits the angler. Not only are the lines and weight economy highly engineered, the tolerances of the reel are precise. There is zero wobble or give on the handle or drag knob, and, what’s critical, the spool fits and moves smoothly within the frame.
Something else that is worth mentioning about the Impact is the price. The 6/8, direct from Qualifly, retails for under $350. This means that it comes in just above the entry level saltwater reels from most of the bigger brands. But as it is certainly not an entry-level reel, it is $100-200 below the competition’s comparable offerings.
I heartily recommend the Impact 6/8 from Qualifly. If you are looking for a reel for big river smallies and the occasional toothy fish or heavy carp, this will be a workhorse for you. If you are fishing estuaries for cruising stripers, snook, or baby tarpon, this will be a reel that does everything you need and more. If you need a little more backing, or regularly tangle with significantly larger species, the 9/10 will give you a little more reel. For the last two years I’ve been impressed with the workmanship of Qualifly’s offerings, and this latest model does not disappoint.
Check out the Impact and all of Qualifly’s other reels here. Have questions about my (continuing) experiences with the 6/8 model? Use the contact form and I’ll be happy to share.