DIY Telescopic Fishing Gaff Tutorial
This is a quick tutorial on how to make a telescopic gaff using an old or spoiled telescopic fishing rod. A gaff would be useful if you finally hooked up to that big catch and would like to secure it. Of course if you're on a pier of a jetty, sometimes using a rope gaff would make more sense as there are limitations to the length of such a telescopic gaff. This build took me at most 2 hours.
OK, let's get to it.
WHAT YOU NEED
Okay, the things I used were:
1) A telescopic rod which i broke
2) Gaff Hook (bought from TCE Tackles at around 6SGD)
3) Some leftover braided line
5) 2-part epoxy
6) Nail polish (Optional)
7) Masking Tape
Tools:
1) Pen knife
2) Hand saw
3) Rotating saw
4) Hammer
5) Brush
Step 1 - Removing the top guide
Use the pen knife to slowly cut away the guide wraps to remove the guide, epoxy and wrapping thread.
Step 2 - Cutting the blank
For this step, measure around 2 inches from the tip (or however much you feel is necessary) and saw mid-way through the blank. This cut would be where the base of your gaff would finally sit at.
Next, using the rotating saw, score the blank from the mid-way cut to the tip. Honestly though, looking back, I think this step might not be necessary. I also used the rotating saw to saw the tip of the rod blank to create a groove for the next step. Thinking back, this step could also be completed using just a hand saw.
Put the pen knife blade in the groove created and slowly hammer down the pen knife to the mid-way cut. The blank should split nicely. As I am writing this, I realize that this might not be possible for certain blanks.
AND YAY. SPLIT!
Step 3 - Fixing on the Gaff
Put the gaff in the blank and check if it fits nicely. Mine did not sit perfectly but it was close to what I wanted.
Tape up the gaff to the blank. Once you're satisfied with the position of how the gaff sits, go CRAZY with the thread wrapping. I was using leftover Fins Windtamer 4lbs line. I'm pretty sure you can use any other kinds of threads but at least use something sufficiently thick and strong.
Step 4 - EPOXY
Get some 2-part epoxy. I would advise you to use the 5 minutes variation as it would have chance of unwanted flows during the drying process. I used the 90 minutes variation and had to constantly rotate the gaff during drying. Learn from my mistakes.
Mix up the 2-part epoxy and spread it all over the thread wrapping. Aim to cover up any visible gaps between the gaff and the blank. A brush would be useful for this step.
FINAL STEP - NAIL POLISH
Well, if you're terrible with proportions and as a result of lousy estimations you end up with an epoxy that's stick on the surface, you might need to do this step as I have. Get some nail polish ( I went with Murder Blood Red) and paint over the epoxy. Wait for the lacquer to cure and what you have left is a pretty decent telescopic fishing gaff.
Additional tip (for the tip): The tip of the gaff is sharp and it is meant to be that way. To protect yourself, and the tip, you could create a simple tip cover using some hot glue sticks. Just heat the glue stick and coat the gaff tip until you create a pretty decent cover. The one I made could be refitted when removed so I deserve a pat on my back.
Hope this helped you in finding purpose for an old rod or as a solution for a cheap gaff.
Tight lines and Smile face :D
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