“I use the reels about every day. If I’m not happy with them? Well, I’m certainly not going to sell them to someone else.”
Joseph Banik, the angler/engineer behind Qualifly Reels, cites that level of functionality and accessibility as his highest priority when designing a reel for his 5-year old brand. His fly fishing sensibilities have meshed with his engineering background to create three eye catching reel models for Qualifly. While the colors and unique composition of each reel make them stand out, the caliber and affordability will really make you take a second look.
“It starts with an idea,” Banik says. “Like on the Razorback: there isn’t another reel where the entire frame functions as a drag knob. There are big drag knobs, because people want that.” So on to the design process. What if it was even bigger, but also totally unobtrusive? Tapping into his years of experience in aerospace, 3D modeling, and CAD, Banik has been able to take ideas and make them into tangible fly reels.
All three of Qualify’s current offerings are machined out of bar stock and are outfitted with sealed disc drag systems. Along with the Razorback’s streamlined full-cage drag adjustment, the other models boast impressive and intrepid features. The Maverick features a minimalist frame, with the drag components and knob located in the center of the reel. This creates a balanced and sleek profile, vital when fishing lighter line weights or when pairing with an ultralight rod.
The big game reel, the Carbontech, integrates another material common to terminal fly tackle into the body of the reel: carbon fiber. “The balance with big saltwater reels is always reducing weight and bulk on a big frame,” Banik says. “Lighter reels run the risk of damage when you machine the walls into thin metal that will dent or bend when dropped. Spending years in aerospace, I was used to working with carbon fiber. using it for the entire face of on side of the reel reduces weight while maintaining durability.”
Purposeful and ambitious design choices like this have earned Qualifly a solid and devoted customer base. And current reel users are their preferred method of marketing. “Right now we’re selling direct because we’re able to control markup.” Banik says, “We aren’t really doing much marketing either, so much of our business is through word of mouth. If you see someone fishing one of our reels, ask them what they think about it. Or, give us a call and we’ll personally talk through your questions with you.”
Again, one of the aspects of Qualifly that might make you think about asking a few questions is the price point for each reel. Coming in at an average of $150 (Maverick), $215 (Razorback), and $385 (Carbontech), they offer remarkable accessibility for feature-rich machined fly reels. “We want people to fish,” Banik says. “And that doesn’t need to come with a high price tag. At the same time, we don’t see gear as disposable. We really want to make functional, high caliber products that are still accessible.”
With forward thinking designs built with daily fishing in mind, Qualifly is a brand worth that second look.
While I have not yet fished a Qualifly reel, I had a great time talking to Banik and his team in person and in a subsequent call. As noted above, I’m impressed at the quality of the product as well as their business model. Qualifly has provided a discount code for Casting Across readers and listeners. For a limited time, use code CASTINGACROSS10 at checkout to save an additional 10%. If you do decide to give Qualifly a shot, let me know!