10-inch ager or 8-inch auger ?

[Dahitman44]

I have looked down a 10 inch hole my whole life ... what do you think about looking at an 8-inch auger?

[Jari Razskazoff]

10

[bbfenatic]

I went from 10" to 8" last season and glad I did, a little lighter and in my one man and two holes leaves me more room for electronics, rods, heater etc...and it cuts faster of course. Now I don't know why I even went with 10" to begin with! I am a porty only guy and move around from lake to lake and spot to spot quite a bit just so you know.

[KJMinion]

I went from 10" to 8" last season and glad I did, a little lighter and in my one man and two holes leaves me more room for electronics, rods, heater etc...and it cuts faster of course. Now I don't know why I even went with 10" to begin with! I am a porty only guy and move around from lake to lake and spot to spot quite a bit just so you know.

+1

Only thing I can add is that the 8" is better too if you have kids fishing with you. They don't seem to drop things in the lake or fall in the 8" hole quite as often.

[PerchJerker]

I have an 8 inch power auger and a 6 inch hand auger and they both work fine for me. The 6 inch hole looks small but it works okay until there's enough ice to bring the power auger out there.

[Glockwinger]

I have an 8 inch power auger and a 6 inch hand auger and they both work fine for me. The 6 inch hole looks small but it works okay until there's enough ice to bring the power auger out there.

This is exactly what I do as well. I have not yet caught a fish I couldn't pull up an eight inch hole, however sometimes it can be tough to turn a northern at the bottom of 30" of ice! My daughter fell down a 10" hole when she was little inside a skid house on Mille Lacs, so I agree with the post about items and children falling in a 10" hole easier too.

[broman]

If you like to drill alot of holes, then get an 8". If you like to sit and fish and not move around alot, especially if you're in a wheelhouse, then get a 10". I have an 8" and do alot of drilling and run and gunning so it works the best for me. But if there is a 10" hole around that one someone else left behind it's definitely nice because you can sometimes get without pulling the transducer when you get a fish. And the hole doesn't freeze as fast.

[RiverChuckNorris]

I'm contemplating the same thing right now. Fished 10" my whole life but contemplating the 4 stroke Honda Strikemaster.

[muc33]

An 8 inch hole can catch just as many fish! Ha! I prefer the 8 for weight.

[Dahitman44]

I really want the new electric Ion, but it only comes in 8-inch right now!!!!

grrrrrrr

[icefishingmn]

with those 10 inch, got to be careful so you electronics dont fall in!

[Rippinlip]

Same as Perchjerker here.

8" power, 6" hand.

No issues with either.

I would like to have a 10" if I am setting up to fish tip-ups.

That way as the holes start to freeze up there is still plenty of room with out chipping.

[GatorBait]

Love this debate every year. yes a 10" hole is grand for me when I'm on the hunt for 20lb+ pike, get a little more play room if you will, especially on the turn with thick ice, but I tend to use the 8" more than the 10" anyways. My reasonings as to why I choose to go with an 8" now is as follows:

1. With my 3 and 7 yr old with me enjoying this awesome sport, I have to look out for their safety. I've dropped through a 10" hole when I was young, I don't need that scare or chance with my kids. I've only had one pike in my life not fit through an 8in hole, I'll continue to take my chance with that once in a lifetime fish.

2. Weight, significant difference and when you are pounding a hundred holes a day, this age thing lets you know it's catching up with ya.

3. There really isn't much advantage. I honestly can't think of much that will actually increase the amount of fish I catch.

[Dahitman44]

Great debate here guys ...

[bee]

No use for a 10in. If you can,t get it through an 8 in get better at landing your catch. If it gets off you had the fun of the fight and someone else may also. Besides 10in holes are dangerous.

[Rube]

I bought a 9" auger for my older Jiffy and yes it is a little heavy, but I like the size. Not that I catch any fish that wouldn't fit through an 8". Old Jiffy won't die so I don't have to make the bigger or smaller decision.

[tsande00]

I also prefer the 8". Since I have a lazer though it's kind of a pain to open old holes in the perm. Ideally I would like to pick up a 9" or 10" chipper blade and just leave it in the shack and use when I'm not in the porty or running and gunning.

[otis]

10. The extra space is nice when you have a ducer in the hole. I went from an 8 to a 10 two years ago and love the extra space it provides.

[amateurfishing]

i have zero issues with ducer & line in 8 inch hole, just put ducer on edge of hole

[AaronM]

Another vote for the 8". No problems ever with getting fish to turn up or not having room for the transducer.

[Fish_Stalker]

Gotta kinda go with the flow here. I use an 8 and 6. 6 for early ice and the 8 for thicker ice. Used a 10 last year when sight fishing late ice perch, it worked great for more visual area. But 8 is the perfect size.

[LindellProStaf]

Years ago I couldn't decide what to get a 10" or an 8". I opted for a Jiffy 9" and love it. On this forum I heard about the Amsoil Saber oil so started using it in my chainsaws and it doesn't smoke a bit. I can't wait to see how it works in my Jiffy.

[Hoffer]

Debate comes up every year.

I have had an 8 inch and now have a 9 inch. Have never had a 10 inch.

I love my 9. I dont think it takes anymore time to drill a hole than the 8.

Plus, the frabill thermals fit over the 9 inch hole great and they dont freeze up as fast as an 8.

If your considering between an 8 and a 9- I think its a no brainer to go with a 9. If your considering between a 8 or 10...that might be more difficult of a decision.

And as the last post said...I totally second the amsoil saber. Love it. Started to use it last year in my 3 year old auger and it idled and started much easier and there was basically no smoke and drip. Will never go back to "regular" oil

[RiverChuckNorris]

Not to totally sidetrack the convo, but could someone elaborate on the strikemasters having trouble re-drilling holes? Why do they struggle? Do all of them struggle? How bad is it?

[bbfenatic]

My Eskimo has a bottom ring and Strikemasters don't have that, not sure if that is a patented design by Eskimo or not. All I know is I re-drill old holes without a problem, not often but when I am on fish I like to go back to the exact hot spot until it proves me otherwise.