What are the benefits of using A top shot gaff!

[DEEP DEFIANCE]

What would the benefit be with using A gaff made by topshot versus A gaff by aftco?I am not really concerned with the flying gaff models because I have no problem with my aftco's.But when it comes to my straight gaffs I was able to bend 2 this year one pomponite and one aftco.I was wondering with the extreme price difference if they would perhaps be more durable.Also it seems that instead of just pulling at your fish in order to gaff it you would think with the topshot you would have to swipe at it due to design.I believe the actual hook on the top shot would hold up better by way of the design but what about the handles? thanks for any replies in advance

[DEEP DEFIANCE]

On both models the hook was where the bend took place!

[gottaflylee]

I assume that you are talking about what I call a "sickle" gaff...the bends are at 90 degree angles or so

[DEEP DEFIANCE]

but they are @90 degrees.

[IN$UFI$HENT FUND$]

deep defiance, although i never used one if you remember in shark hunters east vs. west the winners did and i remember seeing them take two and three swings at the sharks......it looked alot harder to control the gaff set while swinging at the fish...... just my two cents.....

[FinRazr]

The Top shot gaffs are designed to hatchet at the fish like chopping wood instead of the traditional draw technique.It's realy only good on large fish it dosn't have the finess for normal tune and such.I'll stick with traditional gaffs I'm already used to them dont see a reason to change.If you want ones you wont break get a fiberglass one like the barefoots.Or just buy a couple new aftcos there cheap enough.

[jwalker]

deep defiance, although i never used one if you remember in shark hunters east vs. west the winners did and i remember seeing them take two and three swings at the sharks......it looked alot harder to control the gaff set while swinging at the fish...... just my two cents.....

FYI,
That maneuver of theirs resulted in a broken gaff, not sure that is something you need or want to do when gaffing any fish.

[DEEP DEFIANCE]

I will look forward to sticking with aftcos,I will just have to buy A couple at A time thats all.

[Fishthebite]

Top shots enable you for a perfect shot from the side everytime. I love mine and is much easier for me as it is hard to miss with them hence the angle of the steel. I recommend them. The only trick is to put grip tape on the shaft otherwise, it is slick and you will lose a very expensive gaff.

[tim R]

Johnny W. knows what it's about...on flyers.

On small gaffs the Top Shot seems to stick and penetrate better, they're expensive, but I get more feedback that they're very effective compared to other gaffs. I believe it's because the shaft is so light and they are easy to control, plus you get to hit the fish at an easier angle rather than reach around them and yank up. You literally get to swipe at a fish and stick them with the small gaffs...

Moving on to the discussion that developed about flyers:

You set a gaff in a fish, you never swing or chop a gaff at any fish big or small.

Flying gaffs are meant to be laid over a fish then drawn in, it really helps if you take a gaff and practice drawing it into a bale of hay or some other soft object just to get a feel for the angle and how to sink it right.

It's finese and location on a fish that are important. Top shot Gaffs are good, the only thing that worry's me about them is the barb is so far up from the tip, you really have to bury the point about 7" to hit the barb and even if you do, the turn in the head is about 3 inches away and on a bad angle can stop you from sinking it past the barb...That's why practice is important.

These days we all prefer catch and release and it's only a rare big fish we want to gaff (usually in a big tournament if ever)...Practice on something (other than fish) so your ready when the fish you DO want to gaff comes along because it probably won't be small!!!

My personal preference for all fish is an 8" Aftco Gaff...Everyone has been touting "new" monster gaff heads that are heavy to lift and hard to control, not to mention the larger opening gives the fish more leverage to open the gaff or at the very least roll off.

Think about circle hooks for a second, small and near impossible to remove when they find the right location (which they most often do) and it takes simple steady pressure to bury them...Hmmm anyone whan to develop a new gaff?