Gaffs

I found Gaffs on amazon for a great price and free shipping. I want to gather opinions on over all length. Sizes include 10, 12, 18, 24. Shaft length. Hook is a 4 inch hook. I am building a gaff/bonker combo with a straight "hook" but am considering abandoning the project since these are under $10. I am leaning to the 12" since it will give a bit more reach. But 18" means less leaning. Lemme know what you all think.

Thanks

18"
Highly recommend a floating gaff too

going out on the limb on this one. I prefer to use a hay hook as its compact size is more kayak friendly for me.

@eiboh    I have a hay hook, or a meat hook, its stainless and I would hate to lose it. Do you feel like you have enough reach? Do you use a tether?

usually only use on tailgaters / hitchhikers gill land most of my fish. keep in mind hay hook doesn't leave you much room between hand and business end of lingcod but then again neither does gill Landing them.

I use a 12 inch gaff, the handle is full of foam, and it has had to float buck up a few times

if you cant fill the handle with foam and a small float if it won't float on its own. I don't tether the gaff or bonker. I like to be able to switch hands and move around with those two pieces of gear.

I think 18" is about right to me.  I just this week was thinking of trying one of those hay hook type things, but the reach can be useful on fish that are trying hard to shake free.  I made my own, after loosing the one that EWB gave me years ago ( ) out of wood and added a small doughnut of pool noodle to a short piece of cord. 

I think 18" is about right to me.  I just this week was thinking of trying one of those hay hook type things, but the reach can be useful on fish that are trying hard to shake free.  I made my own, after loosing the one that EWB gave me years ago ( ) out of wood and added a small doughnut of pool noodle to a short piece of cord.

If I can get motivated I may try and make a few more for GS....

Bamboo works well for gaff handles.  Super buoyant and looks cool.

just don't let go of the gaff
The ones I've made out of redwood or cedar have all floated, with the 4" mustad hooks. Just make the handle big enough to have buoyancy over the hook.

Bamboo works well for gaff handles.  Super buoyant and looks cool.

Allen has the supplies to make a million!

I used my broken golf clubs as gafs! Its about 36-40in and it makes gafing so much easier. With its long length I can gaf a fish from far away and has a float so it won't sink. I have couple I'm going to sell at GS9 since I only need 1.

downside to Hay hook and Gill Landing

just don't let go of the gaff
The ones I've made out of redwood or cedar have all floated, with the 4" mustad hooks. Just make the handle big enough to have buoyancy over the hook.

I found out that redwood floats too, when I dropped it overboard one day    But I had added the float to it before "testing" that out