Home Made Combo Gaff and Fish Whacker

So with a newborn baby in the house I haven't been able to get away for much fishing. But I have had time to think about it. This idle time had me thinking about a combo gaff and fish whacker. Seems to make sense. One less piece of gear to pack, store, and eventually loose. So off to the garage and here is what I came up with. What do you all think? I still have yet to test it but at least is looks good? Oh and and no teddy bears were harmed in the making of this post.....Well maybe one, but he had it coming!

So onto the details. It's made out of red oak with a teak oil finish.

Overall length is 20in (Gaff section is 5in not including the hook. The club section is 15in)
Overall weight is 15 ounces. The Gaff portion is 4.5 ounces and the Club portion is 11.5 ounces....And yes it floats! whew!

The two sections are joined together with a lag bolt into a 'tee' nut. So once the fish is gaffed you can hold the short gaff section, unscrew the 'whacker' and apply the whack!!!! sweet dreams poor little bear (or fish). I did load the end of the club with some 1/4 inch pencil lead so there is some added weight in the business end.

The pics show the pieces as one, separate and in use.

Enjoy and let me know what you think.

-Eric

ugh can't seem to get all the pics up....

more

two more....the rest are in my photo gallery ewb

final pic

Tremendous craftsmanship Eric.  Now to sink that shank into some flesh.  Your time will come.    Hang in there, it gets better, or so I hear.  At least that is what I tell myself.

Michael

That poor teddy bear.  You are seriously disturbed and skilled.  Nice work.

Hey Eric - A very nice job on the gaff/billy-club! I'm a little worried that with a new baby in the house, you're using a teddy bear as the victim of your efforts! Trust me, you will be doing LESS fishing but it will be O.K.! Rewards in life come in all forms and you are a lucky and talented man.

Tom

For all those that are concerned the teddy bear was/is one of our dog's toys.....I'm not sure that makes it any better...But at least I am not gonna go Jack Nicholson in "The Shinning" on anyone!!!!! Here's Johnny!

E

Glad to hear that you didn't gaff it out of the crib and beat it in front of the baby.  That would freak us out big time!   

Eric, if you should ever consider using your combo as a long gaff, would the lag bolt hold up to a halibut that goes berserko?

I think so. The lag bolt, connecting 'T' nut and hook are secured with 'Gorilla Glue'. I hung some weight from it and held it at an angle and shook it and there was no flex. I think as long as you didn't hold the thrashing 40lb hali straight out be the very end you'd be fine. Pulling it up and onto the deck of a yak should be no problem. I'd love to test it out on a nice big hali

Great job on the combo gaff and whacker Eric. Nice detailed on the handle too.

Jed