Building my own gaff

If you're ever down this way, I have 3 Lathes at home that you can use!

~Bill

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!

+1
I made one from a FW gaff hook and a broken sledge hammer handle (shortened to 24ish inches).  I wrapped it in string, then epoxied the wrapping.  It floats, doubles as a bonker, and it has lasted 4 years without any maintenance ( I gave it to Rob when I won a Kunz gaff).

My two cents - bamboo makes a great handle. Light weight, very tough & somewhat floaty due to the air pockets. Is floaty a real word or have I been hanging with my two year old too much ? 
Drill a center hole. Squirt Gorilla Glue into exposed compartment. Insert shaft of hook. Gorilla Glue expands to fill compartmment and sets up

+1 on the bamboo and Mustad hooks.  Cheap and effective.  12" is too short, imo. 

No need for glue, either.  Wrap it, (look up how to hide the end to keep it clean), and coat with yacht varnish and it will love you long time and look very primitive.

 

+2 on the bamboo.  Thanks to Eric B (Supplied me a perfect length and perfectly sized piece of bamboo) a stop at FW for the hook part and some nylon string and epoxy, my gaf was done!  Varnished the whole thing, and haven gaffed a fish with it now since it was built! .


 

Varnished the whole thing, and haven gaffed a fish with it now since it was built! .

That's the main problem. You build a gaff then carry it around and never end up using it . But, whenever I'm tempted to leave it behind, I think of a couple fish that should have been clipped in the tankwell instead of swimming in the sea, and I pack the gaff.

yeah mine is relegated to WSB and butts.....

I know I'm bumping a zombie but the boss walked out for a few. I got a wild hair and decided I needed a gaff. So a couple hooks out of 304.

Sweet!  What'cha have in mind for the handle?

Oak or manzanita I'm gonna take a hike this weekend. I'm thinking a nice twisted piece would look nice

Man, I cant seem to find any gaff hooks anymore.  Went to FW and they say they dont carry them anymore?  Can only seem to find them in sets of 10 online...  Anyone have extras?

You can have one above^

http://www.mudhole.com/Rod-Building/Gaff-Building/Custom-Builder-Gaff-Hooks

Man, I cant seem to find any gaff hooks anymore.  Went to FW and they say they dont carry them anymore?  Can only seem to find them in sets of 10 online...  Anyone have extras?

Let me know if you wind up ordering.....I'd like to put together a couple with a 2" hook.

http://www.mudhole.com/Rod-Building/Gaff-Building/Custom-Builder-Gaff-Hooks

Has no tang man!

You can have one above^

That would be sweet!  Need to make a gaff for Sara's brother.

Man, I cant seem to find any gaff hooks anymore.  Went to FW and they say they dont carry them anymore?  Can only seem to find them in sets of 10 online...  Anyone have extras?

Let me know if you wind up ordering.....I'd like to put together a couple with a 2" hook.

Might do that as well... Could make a few more gaffs.  Have lots of redwood branches that have fallen that make great floating gaffs if anyone needs!