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Saw a boat in the distance - Bally-Hoo? - maybe on the name fighting a fish yesterday and to my surprise, they gaffed it! I've never seen anyone gaff a salmon before. I've thought about trying it sometime. I've gaffed stripers, tuna and a few other salty characters, but never a salmon or trout. Any other gaffers out there?

I always thought they were illegal on the lake but it's only the tributaries that I saw says no gaffs allowed. Might have to get grandpas old gaff out for next year and stop tangling hooks in the net.

If I start going on solo trips gaffs might be the easier solution to nets.

I don't know if it would be easier, but it would be fun to try.

I’ve gaffer a few salmon in my day. Mostly in AK where I always had one on hand for halibut, and usually because the net was already tangled with another fish. I started keeping one in my boat here a couple years ago. Comes in handy when a giant carp or catfish hits when I’m fishing the discharges and for bass or coho and don’t have a big enough net around. I’ve used it to free lures from birdsnest snags of other guys lines. I can’t remember if I have or haven’t employed it on a Salmon here yet. Doesn’t take up any room and can be handy to have.

I recently fished down in Islamorada out of Bud & Mary’s on a couple of charters and It prompted me to search“Gaff” on this forum. I’m getting one to try next season. Watching the mates it isn’t difficult. Once gaffed you have control of the fish and it can go right into the cooler. No net for the hooks to get into and if you miss you’ll probably get another shot unlike a botched net job. We’ll see how it works.