Building my own gaff

OK well I am not swimming with the big dogs yet, I am nowhere near ready for responsible Ocean Fishing, but I love building fishing rods, so I thought I would take a look at building my own Gaff. I was immediately surprised by two things;

1. A kit to make a gaff from my favorite fishing rod parts supplier Mudhole, is freakin expensive! Most of the kits I saw were more expensive than buying completed gaff (sometimes two and three times as expensive.) It is cheaper (by far) for me to buy a gaff from Amazon, and disassemble it to build it to my spec than it would be to buy a kit…

B. Be very careful when you look up “Gaffs” on Amazon… I also had no idea that is also a name for a certain item of clothing worn by the Ru Paul folks. I will spare you the search, and   lets just say, think of the Buffalo Bill dance in Silence of the Lambs and you will get what they are…..

By the way, what do you folks recommend as good features for a gaff? What length is common and what size hook works best?

You should PM EWB...he makes some cool, simple, very effective wood gaffs.

I like the EWB gaff I have cuz it can double as a fish whacker as well. I know I usually don't need to beat fish, but if I happen to be hook and line fishing and catch a big Ling or Cab it is kinda fun to whack them a few times to show them who the boss is.

 

Best of luck!

 

Sincerely,

Jim

http://www.getbentsportfishing.com/forum/open-forum/81522-need-help-making-gaff.html

I built a few this year.
The first two used Mustad hooks, which I later learned have a tendency to corrode over time. That said, I looked at Eric B's gaff and it was perfectly serviceable years later.

The other two I built I used some stainless rod and made the hooks myself. I made them about 24" long.

fun project for sure. With the handmade hooks the trick is to mount them so that they won't spin in the epoxy. I used a crosspin. The mustad hooks have a 90degree bend that secures the gaff from spinning.

I have a gaff that was made from a mudhole kit, and it is really nice FWIW

I bought a gaff hook from a tackle shop, a1" dowel from Home Depot. Some rope and a little epoxy. The remains of the dowel was turned in to a club. I stained em and clear coated email and its lasted 3 years so far. I think I made both for less than $30. I need to re do the gaff a little but it works just fine. I started with a 3' gaff and have shortened it to 2 1/2'. Put a tennis ball on the end for safety.

Put a tennis ball on the end for safety.

thanks for the saftey reminder Jbaker!

Yeah, for sure you'll want something to protect yourself from the hook. I use a short piece of rubber tubing about the same ID as the hook OD. put a hole in the tubing about 1" from one end, then thread the hook into the tube and out the hole. You can then cut the tubing to the right length to have the free end curve up to cover the hook point.
I like this method because you can rotate the tubing out of the way when you need to use the gaff and not worry about your "protector" getting lost.

I built a few this year.
The first two used Mustad hooks, which I later learned have a tendency to corrode over time. That said, I looked at Eric B's gaff and it was perfectly serviceable years later.

The other two I built I used some stainless rod and made the hooks myself. I made them about 24" long.

fun project for sure. With the handmade hooks the trick is to mount them so that they won't spin in the epoxy. I used a crosspin. The mustad hooks have a 90degree bend that secures the gaff from spinning.

I have a gaff that was made from a mudhole kit, and it is really nice FWIW

I've been looking at the MudHole kits & wondered the quality.  They are nice?

~Bill

I've been looking at the MudHole kits & wondered the quality.  They are nice?

~Bill

I went from using a cut-down boat gaff with a giant hook, to the mudhole gaff which is substantially lighter with a smaller hook. I've used it for years now and much prefer the smaller hook for kayak use. I've taken lings to 23# and halibut to over 20# with it. It has held up nicely with only regular rinses after fishing.

Good to know!

   Thanks!

~Bill

The Mudhole gaffs look sweet, but they are just as expensive as a pro-built one. I am looking at seeing if I can score a $3-$9 gaff on Amazon, and disassembling it, then re-mounting on some old rod blanks I have, putting a good grip on it, thread wrapping it, etc. I am trying to figure out what length is good for a kayak gaff?

Purchased a wooden billy club and gaff hook from FW. Drilled a hole in the side of the club and attached the hook with paracord. You can gaff fish and beat em down with the same thing! 

Couple a things....IMHO

1. decide if you want a "slap" gaff or "pull" gaff not sure if that is the technical name. One you swing down and the hook is at a 45degree angle the other is the one you pull up and has a traditional hook (I like the latter).

2. Make sure it floats and has some bright colors on it so when you drop it you can find it.

3. Most of the one I make are of wood as Jim mentioned I use either dense heavy wood or I bore out a hole and epoxy in a short section of re-bar in the handle end for the combo whacker (2 for 1) and one less thing to pack or forget)

4. I think 24 inch is ideal (20 will also work) we have the luxury of being very close to our catch so a long reach over a gunwale isnt needed

5. I use a Kunz gaff that my wife got me for a bday gift.....

6. Oh and make sure it fits in your rod holder......ask me how I know!

Couple a things....IMHO

1. decide if you want a "slap" gaff or "pull" gaff not sure if that is the technical name. One you swing down and the hook is at a 45degree angle the other is the one you pull up and has a traditional hook (I like the latter).

2. Make sure it floats and has some bright colors on it so when you drop it you can find it.

3. Most of the one I make are of wood as Jim mentioned I use either dense heavy wood or I bore out a hole and epoxy in a short section of re-bar in the handle end for the combo whacker (2 for 1) and one less thing to pack or forget)

4. I think 24 inch is ideal (20 will also work) we have the luxury of being very close to our catch so a long reach over a gunwale isnt needed

5. I use a Kunz gaff that my wife got me for a bday gift.....

6. Oh and make sure it fits in your rod holder......ask me how I know!

how do you know

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Don't spend too much on a gaff, go the DIY route and get a gaff hook from Fishermans Warehouse like this for I think 6$:


I seem to loose one every year, but luckily they are easy to make!

I ended up buying three of these http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BHLIJ0Y/ref=pe_385040_30332190_pe_175190_21431760_3p_M3T1_ST1_dp_1

I'm gunna monkey wiff dem.. WISH I still had access to a lathe! Stay tuned!