Author Topic: Gaff Hook  (Read 2954 times)

cogar

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Gaff Hook
« on: June 22, 2012, 01:02:20 pm »
Gaff is 29” in length and was made for landing those big “Muskies” or Muskelunge, the largest member of the Pike Family.

This was made by my father with the “hook” that was made by the local blacksmith and is signed …. C. C. Cogar …. May 30, 29 (see attached pictures)

Many people think one has to go to the St. Lawrence River or into Canada for Muskie fishing but the Elk and Little Kanawha Rivers in central WV have always been producers of “record” Muskies up in the 50” and 60” class.

And ps: the back of my Town lot borders on the Little Kanawha and one can toss a rock across it most anywhere from here to Parkersburg except 2 mi. up river from me where the Corps built a lake and flood control Dam. Years ago, before roads and railroads, "paddlewheelers" delivered freight and people between Parkersburg and Burnsville.

In days gone past, many big Muskies were taken from those 2 rivers, not by rod n’ reel, but by carbide light n’ gig and by dynamite.

My dad told me a true story about an ole fellow who was noted for dynamiting fish in the Elk River and an “undercover” Game Warden decided he was going to “nab” in the act so he talked that fellow into taking him with him fishing. Well, they got in the boat and the ole fellow paddled out to a deep hole of water, pulled out a stick of dynamite, lit it, watched the fuse burn for a few seconds ….. and then handed it to the Game Warden, …. which scared the bejesus out of the Warden and he flung it out into the river. And “KABOOM” …. and the fish came floating up to the surface. So the ole fellow paddled over and started gathering up the fish and the Warden said .. … Your under arrest. …… What for? ….. For dynamiting fish. ….. Not me, you’re the one that dynamited the fish, I’m just gathering them up so they won’t go to waste.

Cheers

« Last Edit: June 22, 2012, 01:18:08 pm by cogar »

mart

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Re: Gaff Hook
« Reply #1 on: June 22, 2012, 02:20:05 pm »
Are you sure thats a true story ??  If so,, same thing must have happened in Texas !!  That guy gets around doesn`t he ??  LOL

cogar

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Re: Gaff Hook
« Reply #2 on: June 23, 2012, 04:40:26 am »
That’s what my dad said, maybe it originated in WV.

He told me another one that happened on the Elk at a place I use to fish a lot called Bealls Mills Island where there was once a grist mill. The water flowed fast around one side of the island and that’s where the mill was with an above average deep pool of water below the island. Dad told me the man’s name who kept his john-boat tied up at the end of the island and one day he decided to dynamite that pool of water. So, untying his boat he guided it down to good spot, dropped the dynamite into the water and started furiously paddling back to the island. But he either lost hold of his paddle, or it broke, and the boat started floating back down river ….. and “KABOOM”,  it blew him and his boat out of the water and he had to swim back to shore.   

Young boys always believe the stories their dad tells them, right. ;D ;D

KC

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Re: Gaff Hook
« Reply #3 on: June 23, 2012, 11:02:01 am »
Chuckle....moral of the story....have a functioning outboard motor on hand?
I'm from the South - but please don't mistake my Southern Manners/Accent/Charm as a weakness!

talesofthesevenseas

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Re: Gaff Hook
« Reply #4 on: June 23, 2012, 01:48:15 pm »
LOL great story!
Antiqueaholic in recovery

cogar

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Re: Gaff Hook
« Reply #5 on: June 28, 2012, 06:19:35 am »
This checker board and box of checkers was made with Black Walnut and Sumac wood.

If you remove the lid on the box there are two (2) drilled compartments containing the matching  "checkers". I should have shown its construction but was in hurry to post the picture.

 

frogpatch

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Re: Gaff Hook
« Reply #6 on: June 28, 2012, 07:41:04 am »
Nice items. I never saw anything made with sumac wood. That is a beautiful board.  When we were in boy scouts we would make lemonade out of staghorn sumac berries.
I found a gaff similar to that. I have used it for a couple of things like fishing a couple of tomato cages out of a dumpster and reaching something in the attic.  I surf fish so I rely on the wave to land the fish.  That wave going the other way will also take your fish. Its all in the drag and timing
« Last Edit: June 28, 2012, 07:47:53 am by frogpatch »

mart

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Re: Gaff Hook
« Reply #7 on: June 28, 2012, 09:25:49 am »
I have also had my share of that lemonade !! We have sumac in abundance here !! Its so invasive it doesn`t get the chance to get bigger than a cane pole here !!

KC

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Re: Gaff Hook
« Reply #8 on: June 28, 2012, 11:45:26 am »
Ditto Mart.  It is propogated for projects/woodworking more commonly in the Northeastern US.
I'm from the South - but please don't mistake my Southern Manners/Accent/Charm as a weakness!

frogpatch

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Re: Gaff Hook
« Reply #9 on: June 28, 2012, 02:42:25 pm »
Yeah, it does get big here in rural NJ, but it also has a look alike called ailanthus which loves the polluted air along busy urban roadsides. It is also called tree of heaven. Talk about a misnomer!

StelaMartin

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Re: Gaff Hook
« Reply #10 on: July 25, 2012, 07:07:39 am »
Tree of heaven...it is called so because it absorbs atmospheric polluted air and returns back valuable oxygen. But staying under the tree at night would be dangerous as it reverses its process.

mart

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Re: Gaff Hook
« Reply #11 on: July 25, 2012, 10:09:20 am »
Mmmm,, Thats interesting !!  Welcome to the forum Stelamartin !!

KC

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Re: Gaff Hook
« Reply #12 on: July 25, 2012, 12:35:45 pm »
Very interesting....  Like info like that!
I'm from the South - but please don't mistake my Southern Manners/Accent/Charm as a weakness!

frogpatch

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Re: Gaff Hook
« Reply #13 on: July 25, 2012, 02:07:52 pm »
That must be why they smell so bad if you break a small branch.