After last years 8 Day SOA trip while sorting fish at the processor's area I found that a fish hook/extra short gaff worked pretty well, especially when pulling those razor toothed wahoo out of the carts. My original is an antique Barr Bros. Gaff. Not really expensive, but pretty old. I figured why not try to make one. Scavenged one 1/4" steel rod and a scrap of oak and got to work. I drilled a blind 1/4" hole in the handle then a 1/8" through hole to secure the gaff in the handle. A liberal application of expoxy to secure the hardware and some red oak stain for the wood and we have a second gaff. You can see the original next to the new one. The new one is a little longer at 7 3/8" but the rest is faithful to the original. Was a fun quick project. I will bring both on this years 8 day. Hopefully we have a bunch of razor toothed wahoo to try them out on 😜. Bill
That is well done indeed. Maybe some BLO over that stain to keep the wood in good shape? On Ted's boat, the short gaff is used more than any other, very handy to move things around.
The Man
Are you gonna put tick marks on the handle for every hoo you catch?
Quote from: pjstevko on March 23, 2022, 04:06:35 AMAre you gonna put tick marks on the handle for every hoo you catch?
It might be virgin for a couple years though 😂😂😂. Bill
Go to a commercial fishing supply house and ask for a gillnet pick. Four bucks.
Nice.
Quote from: Bill B (Tarfu) on March 23, 2022, 04:29:05 AMQuote from: pjstevko on March 23, 2022, 04:06:35 AMAre you gonna put tick marks on the handle for every hoo you catch?
It might be virgin for a couple years though 😂😂😂. Bill
AH.. you can practice moving hay bales with those hooks !!!
Pretty and functional. Watch out you don't tell too many people on the trip what a great tool it is. Don't want to get it borrowed, lol.
Quote from: Rancanfish on March 24, 2022, 04:04:19 PMPretty and functional. Watch out you don't tell too many people on the trip what a great tool it is. Don't want to get it borrowed, lol.
Might have to paint them like the old pier reels 😉. Or just make a couple more as give always. 🤔. Bill
Quote from: Bill B (Tarfu) on March 24, 2022, 06:33:56 PMQuote from: Rancanfish on March 24, 2022, 04:04:19 PMPretty and functional. Watch out you don't tell too many people on the trip what a great tool it is. Don't want to get it borrowed, lol.
Might have to paint them like the old pier reels 😉. Or just make a couple more as give always. 🤔. Bill
Yes please!
PJ pm sent 🤫
Quote from: Bill B (Tarfu) on March 25, 2022, 01:42:03 AMPJ pm sent 🤫
Nothing new is showing in my inbox.....
You should bring a couple on the July 3 day as raffle prizes
Yeah I won't be on the July trip, I'm going in June. I will have to put one aside for you. Bill
Cool beans Bill. Dominick
PJ I put your gaff in the mail today... let me know what you think or can improve. Bill
I received my hand gaff in the mail yesterday and it's BEAUTIFUL!!!!! Just looking at it there's no way to tell that it isn't professionally made. The small oak handle fits perfectly in my hand and overall size will make it easy to store in my bag until i need it back at the landing. If you're in the market for one I highly suggest you contact Bill and work out a deal!!!
Thanks again!!!!
Thank you for the kind words PJ! I hope you cover it it in fish slime 👍. Bill
Reminds me of a story of dad and another guide out meat fishing stripers with long surf rods and Squidders from a bass boat over a big rockpile. They were throwing reverse Atom plugs with the head chamber drilled out to fill with water for extra distance. Disaster if they landed on a boulder. During the course of the night the gaff was lost overboard so the rest of the fish were brought in using a Tony Acceta "Pet Spoon". The body of it was larger than the palm of your hand with a solidly attached single 9/0 hook. Any port in a storm.
Quote from: Bill B on March 27, 2022, 12:36:48 AMPJ I put your gaff in the mail today... let me know what you think or can improve. Bill
Bill, Gary (GS Tours) our buttman has made a gaff that will allow the fish to spin without breaking your wrist. I got to use it on my Alaskan trip with Gary and it is an efficient tool. I trust that Gary will see this and post some photos of his gaff. Dominick
Nice work Bill, reminds me of bail hooks in the wool industry, although the hook on them is a bit shorter, cheers Don.