Pikeguy,
I have definetely lost fish when attempting to gaff them. A single hook gaff is much harder to use than a treble hook gaff and I would not recommend them. The best way I have found to gaff a fish is to get the hooks under the fish as their head comes up the hole and jerk the gaff upward sharply. It is too easy for a single hook to be deflected to the side but with a treble hook gaff you will more often than not, sink at least one hook into their lower jaw or upper belly area. DO NOT GAFF FISH YOU PLAN TO RELEASE. Hope this helps!
