my new fish smaker

One of the cool things about this hobby for me is trying to build stuff from scratch.  I just love homebrew remedies, especially when I can't find something just the way I want, or costs too much.

So last year when I caught a halibut, and E2G helped me out by smacking the head with his trusty bat (thanks again!) I decided I need to start carrying one.  After he was on the stringer and I thought pronounced dead, I started peddling back to shore, damn thing keep waking up to smack his tail around and getting blood all over the front of my kayak.  Even back on shore, he kept waking up, so I finally 'beat him till his momma didn't recognize him" as someone in a previous suggested, with my gaff.

I keep looking for something a little smaller than a novelty bat, or tire checker, but just hadn't found anything I liked.  So when reading some other website I saw what looked perfect, a salmon or trout priest. Like EX: (http://www.grahamsonline.co.uk/product.php?ID=2735). 

So still being a cheap scape I decided to build something similar, and I really like how it turned out! Simple, practical and smaller than a bat.  Cost was around 5 bucks for the dowel and washers, and bolts.  I had the threaded bar ( and a bunch more ) from work.  Just needed to drill out the center of a dowel, and slap it all together.

Nice work and great idea. I think I'll be mimicking your design 

GENIUS!!! I will be making one soon. It is always better to have something you made, than buy. 

nice look fish smaker!

glad I could be of help with the club.  But I carry it for the launch ramp, not the fish

Very nice and economical.  I would not want to be on the receiving end of that contraption.


Mike

The engineer in me says, "if it ain't broke, it doesn't have enough features yet".

Accordingly, I'm gonna steal  borrow your design, and ever so slightly modify it by replacing the slippery wooden dowel with an uber-pimp camo EVA foam grip from Mudhole.com.

http://www.mudhole.com/Shop-Our-Catalog/EVA_2/Camo-EVA-Rear-Grips

Oh yeah, time to get medieval!

nice look fish smaker!

glad I could be of help with the club.  But I carry it for the launch ramp, not the fish

Ahahahah!  You launching over by hunters point or something??  Or just need to keep the peace?

I also made a gaff from rattan and a gaff hook from FW: http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,8089.0.html  but I am still looking for a reason to upgrade that to a KZ floating ultra cool gaff.  Because, DAMN they look nice!!!!!

Thanks guys, I really like how it turned out, but upgrades are always an option!  Might add in a shock cord for starters, and maybe some grip tape.  And if you need more weight, just add more washers and your done!  Not sure how it will stand up to rust yet, but hell, it only took an hour to make!

Btw, I have more of the threaded bar, cut to the same length, if anyone wants em. 

H-Back,

            I like it, going on the cheep....Not a lot of $$$$, but it looks like it should do the Job on the water......and in hunters point.


S.

Just be sure to keep an eye on that nut unscrerwing.

One of the cool things about this hobby for me is trying to build stuff from scratch.  I just love homebrew remedies, especially when I can't find something just the way I want, or costs too much.

Al, you might want to patent that thing.  Call it The Fish Bonker or something.  I can see many uses, and some very tacky advertising in your future:  "Are you tired of that pesky fish who sometimes only pretends that it's dead?..."

Here are a few words from one satisfied customer:

"My husband of fifty years was slightly misbehaving.  I was distraught until I learned about Al's new improved Fish Bonker.  I was able to build one with the kind help of our local hardware store and anglers' tackle shop.  Now my husband is just as sweet as can be.  Granted that he can't walk in a straight line anymore, and the bruises may last for some time, but at least I got him home in one piece.  Mostly.  I had tried to warn him about getting a tandem kayak.  Now he listens better.  If not, I could always just bonk him again.  He is whimpering in a corner for now.

Signed;  One satisfied customer who remains anonymous.

Very nice!
I made a similar one last year from the but of a rod blank and some brass washers.  its scary effective 

For double hookups:

 

Matt, ganoderma, you guys crack me up!

 Aren't you worried that, that thing might GO through the head of its intended target instead of just caving it in slightly?  It is a fine "Ugly stik!

  Not sure how it will stand up to rust yet, but hell, it only took an hour to make!

It looks too new right now anyway. Rust & a few scales will just make it look cooler 

Just a little warning: I'm on my third bonker now. Lost one at Bean last year, & then another at Davenport a few weeks later, so I don't get too attached to them any more.