8" vs. 10" hole

[KTapper]

I would never have a 10" auger adds weight and uses more power to get through the ice, plus I dont want to loose my $500 flasher down the hole.

[&JAG]

Had an 8" for 7 yrs. went to a 10" for 3 yrs. Just bought a new auger guess what, I'm glad to be back with the 8". I fish a lot of tip-ups for Pike, Bass and Walleye on the river. Along with Upper Red and Mille Lacs for Piggies and Pike... No need for a 10" unless your hitting on Lakers etc. The extra weight and slower drilling alone is what got me back. If you fish a Perm. a lot I can see a 10" come into play. Good luck

[SM1]

Since I can only catch small fish, my 9" Jiffy has always worked very well.

[Jim Uran]

I've got a 10" and I love it. (yes i'm still talking about my auger )

It does add some weight, but it's nice to have the ducer down there and a little extra room to play with. I like it for big fish too.

[Bob/Mn]

I like the 8 inch. When in a house there are less chips to remove. With a 8 inch hole there is lass chance to loss a fish that come unhooked.

For panfish I use a 6 inch.

[BobT]

Quote:

I am no walleye slayer by any means but I did get into a big 27 3/4" eye on Mille Lacs and he would not have fit thru a 8" hole.

You do realize that an 8" hole would accommodate a fish with up to a 25" girth right? In that resepect your talking monster walleye and a 27-1/2" walleye does not have a 25" girth.

Just messin' with ya.

[pljllo]

Sell the Strikemaster, and buy a 8inch auger for the

Eskimo power head if you like the Eskimo better.

[Fredd]

The 33" greenback up on the Red River had a 25" girth and she came up what looked to be an 8" hole.

[EBass]

I have the 10" because the 9" was sold out. I like the size, but I don't like extra weight or how slow it is. I have an eskimo too.

[The_King48]

Quote:

I am no walleye slayer by any means but I did get into a big 27 3/4" eye on Mille Lacs and he would not have fit thru a 8" hole.

You do realize that an 8" hole would accommodate a fish with up to a 25" girth right? In that resepect your talking monster walleye and a 27-1/2" walleye does not have a 25" girth.

Just messin' with ya.

Where do u come up with a 25" girth. That seems a bit big imo??????????????????????????????? A 8" or a 10" will work fine. Big fish can be caught with either hole. 10" will just be easier to get the head up in my opinion/experience. If u go 10" make sure you have/get a 3HP motor. I put a 10" on the 2hp strike master and she wasn't happy.. To much strain on the gear box. I bought a new 3HP Jiffy last year and chews up the ice no problem.. Its all what u need or want.....

[Getanet]

I have a 10" because when I went to buy my auger it was the biggest, meanest looking one I could find. Isn't that how you're supposed to buy any tool? If it's a good enough theory for Tim the Toolman Taylor, it's good enough for me.

[wildmanp]

one is bigger than the other........

[hamms-scooter]

I hate 10 inch holes! Period!

[walleyeRyummy]

i used a 10" last year that a friend had lent me...it was my 1st year ice fishing so i had nothing to cmpare it to.

this year i bought the strikemaster electra 8" becausei did not want to "smoke" up the inside of my wheelhouse and also i did not like trying to get the gasoline smell off my hands.....

i have found that i really dont mind an 8" hole at all and having a 2 year old daughter, i feel alot safer

[SDS]

8inch auger's are lighter and if you walkout early in the year this may be an issue. Ive fished both size holes and it might seem like you can pull bigger fish with the 10, but throught many years iv owned a 8in jiffy and pulled 30+in walleye and 40+in pike throught the hole. i think the hook set, drag, and a little bit of luck become more of a factor than the extra 2inches.

[wplatehunter]

I have both a 10" and 8". I use the 10" most of the time. Our house does not get moved a lot, so it takes longer for the holes to close up. The only thing I don't like about it is fishing with young kids.

[BobT]

Quote:

Where do u come up with a 25" girth. That seems a bit big imo???????????????????????????????

Girth is the circumference measurement around the fish. An 8" hole has a circumference of 8 * PI or 8 * 3.14159265....

8" * PI = 25.13274... inches.

That's why I questioned the statement that a 27-1/2" walleye wouldn't fit through an 8" hole. It would have to be an extemely fat walleye.

[mrscott]

I have a 10" Strike-master. I've had it for 7 years. I've never dropped anything down the hole that wouldn't end up in a smaller one, (rod & reel that I immediately fished out). Never stepped in the hole. My kids never fell in it. I like it when I rest my minnow rig in the top part of the hole - it doesn't get in the way. I have no transducer to worry about. I have a bit more 'fudge factor' when lining up my holes of the floor in my portable.

I miss my 7" Mora hand auger for the portability and no gas. I wish I had an 8", because I believe my little engine is working too hard. It takes too long to drill through 12" of ice.

I wonder if I can put on a different shaft?

Good luck on the ice!

[gusdawgg01]

I have fished out of a 6 inch hole up to a 10 inch hole, depends what your fishing for. The 6 was great for pannies, even got them nice Red lake crappies threw it. The best point on the small whole was if the hook came out when the fish was in the hole, it had to come to the top to get turned around and swim away. Didn't make good for site fishing and wasn't the best for the bigger game fish. Seen some nice big fish come outta some not so big holes..

[gusdawgg01]

Mr Scott, go to SM in Big Lake, you can get replacement shafts. Couple of years ago I ran over a buddies auger, not on purpose tho. He had 6 inch traded his bent one for another buddies 6 inch, and I bought him a 7 inch to replace it.

[DTro]

you won't put a trophy fish on the wall in the winter time with an 8" hole...unless it is a trophy sunny or crappie.

I bet most of the trophies that have came through the ice have been through an 8" hole. Very rarely will you see a fish with a bigger girth than 25".

[dan z]

if you need a 10" inch hole you better be fishin for lakers. never seen it happen but would a fourwheeler tire fit in one. I know my foot,flasher,ice skimmer,clippers,phone and lighters all go down that darn crater size hole way to to easy...

safe a lifetime of supplies and go with the 8"

[dan z]

I bet most of the trophies that have came through the ice have been through an 8" hole. Very rarely will you see a fish with a bigger girth than 25".

If flatheads would be in the equation I think there would be a problem.

[DTro]

Even with Flatheads, 25" is a big girth.

Here is one from last year that was 25"

[NoWiser]

I agree with dtro, there are very few fish in MN that can't be fit through an 8" hole. I've caught MANY walleyes between 26 and 28 inches (can't seem to break the 28 inch mark, though) and never had any problems at all getting them up. I've also gotten lake trout up to 36" through my 8" hole, although any bigger might have been a challenge. I'd like to get a 10" auger for lakers but just don't have the money. I suppose I'll wait until the year after I hook one too big to get up.

Go with whatever you prefer. For me, I would stick to an 8".