Home-made gaff

[TheTenman]

I have an old beef stick 2 piece surf rod, I'd like to take the bottom half and make a gaff out of it. Any ever do anything like this before if so what's the best way to secure the hook?

[Gerry Zagorski]

If the pole is hollow put the gaff hook shaft into it and epoxy it in.

I've seen people do this with Ski Poles.

[saltfisherman]

Ten, I did exactly what you want to do. Took a broken rod, cut the blank off few inches prior to grip. Used Pro Paste Epoxy. It's thicker and I loaded the rod blank up with it. Twisted the gaff into it, epoxied the opening closed.

[shrimpman steve]

Originally Posted by Gerry Zagorski

If the pole is hollow put the gaff hook shaft into it and epoxy it in.

I've seen people do this with Ski Poles.

I didn't kno you poles ski

[TheTenman]

Thanks fellas. Epoxy alone or do you use some twine as well?

[saltfisherman]

Just epoxy. My first attemp it didn't hold well and I was able to spin the hook. Didn't use enough epoxy.

2nd go at it, I loaded the heck out of the blank and packed epoxy down the sides of the opening left when the hook was set in the blank. Tapered the epoxy at the blank opening too.
I also packed the blank with some paper towels so the epoxy had a place to stop flowing down from and stayed put.

I've used mine for two years so far on a kayak. Nothing overly huge, blues and stripers.