8" auger or 10" ???

[ribsey_77]

I have fished with my 10" for 15 years and yes it is a bit heavy and does take a little longer to drill. but it is nice for turning fish up it with the 'ducer still in I also have had my kid step in the hole and as stated above he learned his lesson!!! When I need a new one i might consider an 8 but i need to fish in one first can t remember when was the last time i did that.

[broncosguy711]

I was not sure about getting a 10, but was at home depot one day and they had a earth auger and a winter attachment for 88.00 so I figured what the heck. was kind of nice when I was younger, but that hog is heavy now being over 16 years old.

[CrappieNight]

Doesn't it defeat the purpose of your safety argument when you guys follow it up with "I overlap holes for bigger fish"? Just a thought.

[Big Tom]

I'm still using a 7" StrikeMaster my F-I-L got me 12 years ago. It's light and quick which is nice when puting down 10-15 holes on a reef structure. When I replace it, I'll probably opt for an 8.

[Moose-Hunter]

An 8" hole has a "girth" of approx 25". Very few people have ever pulled a fish through the ice that has a 25" girth.

If you are fishing for fat trophy fish such as Laker or Pike, then a 10" might fit the bill.

Hey dtro...

Just to give a bit of perspective to your post... I have a 34 pound laker on the wall which has a 25.5" girth.

[Ed Carlson]

What is the individual standings for max hole size for angling in various states now.

In many it was 12" max, but some states and provinces have hence changed this.

Any feedback on this?

[minnbowhunter]

I love my 10 inch, when they come out with a 12 inch, I will upgrade.

[quickfish6]

I would say 8 inch less ice to go threw so you can drill holes faster.

[reinhard1]

i have a 10in. happy with it. i like the fact that you can see more area and pull fish through maby a little easier. good luck.

[FISHINGURU]

10 inch for the win, Nils will find out the hard way!! Nils makes holes so small I have to double them up to get the fish up that I'm after.

[Mainehazmt]

I want the 10" have a 6 and 8 but waiting till I get the 10" 36vt icegator!

[BrdHunter01]

10" all the way. Everyone I fish with uses a 10" hole. Its simply easier and nicer to fish out of. More room for the ducer, line not catching the side of the whole all day long, doesn't freeze over as fast, and WAY easier to land a fish!

I did fish out of an 8" hole a lot last year because the perm I was fishing in could only fit an 8" hole. I know I lost many fish because it required more finesse to get the fish up. A 10" hole you can just slam up the hole and grab em. I would never buy anything less. Once you fish out of a 10" hole you won't wanna fish in anything less. JMO

I don't know anyone who sold there 10" auger to replace it with an 8"

[Hoffer]

I didnt read all the pages on this thread - so this may have been mentioned. I went with the compromise between the 8 and 10 and bought a 9 inch 3 years ago. Love it!

I was just out the other night and had a 5 pound eye on that just would not cooperate and turn into the hole - even with the 9 inch. It wasnt a huge fish by any means - it just wouldnt turn! i ended up putting my arm down the hole and was able to finesse it up and I didnt lose the fish. I am pretty sure that if I had an 8 inch hole i may have not been able to maneuver my arm down the hole. Plus, my round frabils fit perfectly over th 9 inch holes with over an inch to spare all the way around. The only thing I hate about this auger(and this is not related to hole size) is that it has that stupid little yellow button on the side that you have to push in every time you pull the starting cord

I just hate that!! On a different note, I put fresh non-oxy gas in this year with amsoil mix - and the auger purrs like never before. I drilled 12 holes and laid it on the ice in between holes and it just kept running and running - never worked that well before

[broman]

10" all the way. Everyone I fish with uses a 10" hole. Its simply easier and nicer to fish out of. More room for the ducer, line not catching the side of the whole all day long, doesn't freeze over as fast, and WAY easier to land a fish!

I did fish out of an 8" hole a lot last year because the perm I was fishing in could only fit an 8" hole. I know I lost many fish because it required more finesse to get the fish up. A 10" hole you can just slam up the hole and grab em. I would never buy anything less. Once you fish out of a 10" hole you won't wanna fish in anything less. JMO

I don't know anyone who sold there 10" auger to replace it with an 8"

I just did that. Bought an 8"' to replace my 6 and 10. IMO 8" is for hole hoppers. 10" is for sitting. IMO