Why not gaff?

I thought about that this winter after losing a couple of nice fish at the net in the fall. I've decided to go with a gaff this year but only for those fish I'm absolutely sure I'm going to keep. I'll net al others. Hooking them under the chin is relatively easy so you don't get blood all over. Most guys think you have to hook them in the side with a gaff so gaffing brings up all sorts of nasty images. We used a gaff on the steelhead through the ice this winter because it was about the only way to get them up through 18 inches if ice. It was easy, got the fish up quick, and didn't make a mess. I'll say again that I intend to only use it for keepers. No culling of gaffed fish, even if looks clean.

Backin the 70's on charter boats double and triple headers were coommon and we gaffed alot of fish. Fish that are gaffed in the head do not lose eating quality but ones gaffed in the body do. Gaffing a fish in the head from a rocking and rolling boat takes some practice esp. with a novice on the rod. Fishing by myself I often find it easier to gaff kings. When trolling body baits for browns I often carry an ice fishing gaff to avoid the rapala in the net thing. An under hand lift under the chin is effective esp. on smaller fish while a over hand swat seems to be great for kings if they are still green. I dont beleive any tournaments allow gaffed fish.

I've been using one for several years. I rarely use a net any more. It is MUCH easier to gaff when alone and if you put them straight in the box and close the lid quick there isn't much mess. I just cut the line outside of the box and tie on a new bait, reset the rod and wait until the fish settles down. Then it's back into the box, remove the hook, slit the gills to bleed it out and have a beer.

Mark

I started using a gaff last year, mostly as a backup for when my son and I are salmon fishing. We had several times when we had more than one fish on at a time then after netting the first fish the net would be out of commision until untangling the fish and lure. The gaff seemed a bit awkward at first. But I got each fish in the box. Including a triple header. One thing is when you gaff the fish you cannot wait to get them flipped into the boat. The gaff comes out easy. Yes you will get blood in your boat but you will get fish as well.

what kind of a gaff do you use? I have one for fishing pike through the ice that has a treble hook on the end but it is only about 18 inches long. I have just started fishing the big lake in my 16 footer ( an I mean fishing, catching has been limited) but using the net when fishing alone is a real pain in the [email protected]@. Do you make your own gaff or can they be bought. how long should they be. I am itching to get on the water and I want to try and do it right.

flydunker

I made mine from a wooden shovel handle which I cut off at 5' long and a heavy duty screw in utility hook (like the 75# capacity bike hangers you screw into a cieling rafter. I just cut off the vinyl coating on the hook and sharpened the end on my grinding wheel. Not very fancy but it cost me $12 and works like a charm. If I lose it I can make three more for the cost of a commercially made one and they don't work any differently than mine.

Oh boy, another weapon to use on my brother when he gets in my boat! I hadn't even thought about it! Why stick him with a puny 2/0 treble when I can use a meat hook?!!!??
I wouldn't want to use it in a tourney though cuz if my fish bled out before the weigh in, I might lose 10 or 20 lbs. per fish with the monsters I boat!

I wouldn't recommend sticking your brother but if you do, the gaff comes back out clean because it's barbless. The exit hole is kind of big but a little duct tape over the hole and you should be good to keep fishing. In a pinch, the adhesive backed flash tape will work instead of duct tape but you may want to save your tape for the lures instead. Just tell him to stick his finger over the wound and to quit whining.

On the seroius side.... don't leave that thing laying where someone could step or sit on it. A gaff in the leg is bad mojo.

I'm thinking in the leg would be better than up the arse...

Levi how about you show me one of those fish you are talking about?

And instead of a gaf I just kick the fish into the boat...Seems to work pretty good...(note sarcasm, some will get it some wont)!!

Here Fishy Fishy Fishy...

I've used a gaff for years to mainly take care of "problem fish". My unlce lives in New Jersey and picked me up a nice aluminum 4 footer at a garage sale for a couple of bucks years ago. I keep it very handy on the Salmon Slammer and use it when needed.

For "EXPERT GAFFING" seminars: contact Pat LaPorte
Reel Commotion Charters

Down in the Keys they use a .22 pistol to kill the hammer heads before they bring them aboard the boat...haha...

Can we shoot fish that are legally hooked?