Do you prefer a small hole?

[Savage Brewer]

I think it makes the fish look bigger right?

In all seriousness, I am looking to get a different hand auger, just finding turning a 8" hole by hand sucks.

So I am looking at something like a 5" or 6", the 5" would make hand drilling easier, but at the same time I think it might just be a tish tight.

Thoughts?

[Fowlmouth]

Thats what she said.

[Chad Holst]

It's so hard to answer this post with any kind of serious answer... Smaller holes...doing it by hand...5 to 6 inches... Yikers!

Ok, I'll try. It depends on a few things. Are you using electronics? (Tends to get caught up easier in a small hole) Fishing out side a house? (Will freeze up faster) type of fish?

I wouldn't less than 6" ever... But I never fish where there is no chance of getting a biggish fish. Most our pan fish spots have northerns.... Etc.

[Agronomist_at_IA]

The tighter the better I would go to a 6in but no smaller

[dfeste]

Buy a 6" Nils and you'll be done looking forever.

[Savage Brewer]

Yeah I am thinking 6".

Couple years ago fishing with a guy I knew, he had a 6" Lazer hand auger, and I have an 8" Lazer hand auger.

With a few shoulder problems (and frankly just getting older) I remember how much easier it was to put down a few holes with the 6" auger.

The area of a 6" circle is roughly 28", so a 12" deep hole means you are removing 336 cubic inches of material.

The area of a 8" circle is roughly 50", so a 12" deep hole is 600 cubic inches of material.

Couple that with the torque ratio at the outside edge of the cutting head, 6" holes are just that much easier and faster.

I was toying with the 5" idea, but I forgot that I am using a flasher now, so having that one extra inch might be nice.

I have a 8" gas auger, but I like to keep a hand auger around for when it wants to be finicky, or I do something stupid like forget to put gas in it.

Also there are a handful of place my dad and I used to fish where we had to go in on foot (or snowshoes) because of the terrain. In those situations packing light was absolutely needed, and a gas auger means toting and extra 25# around.

The 5" was just an idea, as I see nils makes a 4.5, 6 and 8.

6" is probably my best choice.

[JeremyCampbell]

I been using a six inch hand auger and I am still beating myself for losing a pretty good size walleye on a lake.I had him right under the ice .and the fish got unhooked from smacking its head on the side of the hole .After that happened I decided I'm going to buy a 8"-10" auger this winter but it will be gas this time.The six inch helped me 90% of the time panfishing and pulled up some ok sized northern .I sometimes would stumble over other holes 8-10 inch and it sure was nice when the water was clear and a bigger hole gives a nice cinema of the fish.

[Cheers]

I think more fish are lost as the result of a 10 inch hole as opposed to a 6 inch hole . It is not uncommon for fish to become unhooked in the hole . With a small hole you can grab the fish as it cant turn and swim down . With a larger hole the fish can escape . For years we used 6 inch hand augers for walleye and lake trout and pulled many good fish out with out a problem. Plus where we fish here in Canada the ice can get thick and it is a chore to drill a hole so the smaller the better.

[icefisker]

Buy a 6" Nils and you'll be done looking forever.

+1

[dfeste]

As far as the transducer goes just pull it out of the hole as soon as you hook up. It will take a little training on your part but it's not that big of a deal and soon it will become second nature.

[iafish4fun]

OK, you got me. Yes.

But for the answer you are looking for. I had a 8" hand auger and it was a beast to use. The same size gas one is no problem. I would use either a 5 or 6 for hand augers. Probably depends what you are fishing for too. I am usually after panfish, so wouldn't need much.

[Getanet]

Have you looked into the adapters where you can attach a hand auger to a cordless drill? I've never used one but they look slick and could be perfect for your shoulder situation.

[fishadb]

With a gaff you can pull a pretty big fish out of a 6 inch hole. My buddies all have 8" augers and i have a 7" works good for redrilling their holes. IMO 10" are never necessary caused to many wet feet over the years.

[PerchJerker]

For years I've used a 6" hand auger and an 8" power auger and it's worked great for me, don't foresee changing that anytime soon .......

[Bureaucrat]

Ditto.

Been full circle on this. Had one great day of pike fishing through 8" holes, but struggled getting ten+ pounders through it. Switched to a 10" auger and have struggled for years with walleye and perch jumping all over he)) and creation as they came up.

I fished with a guy who used a 6" hole for jumbo perch fishing. We also picked up a handful of 18-21" walleyes, and had no problems.

Going forward, It's 6" hand, 8" power for me. Plus, the 10" holes are tough to cover with a frabil tipup.

[Northlander]

I have also went round and round with what size hole I like. I have to say I enjoy a bigger hole. I cant help but crack up as I type this.

I have gone to 8" for both hand and power auger. If I need a bigger hole I over lap and cut what looks like a 8 in the ice. Never lost a fish like that.

[jigginjim]

Ditto Northlander, several years ago In-fisherman had a lake trout ice trip. The guys cut two holes angled away from each other, then sawed out the center piece. Looked like a large oval, maybe 12-16" on top, bottom of hole was maybe up to 20" wide for fish to side up easier. I have thought of that for tip-up fishing.

[Savage Brewer]

Yeah, the title of my topic is kinda funny.

I picked up a Clam 6" auger conversion kit for the drill today at the ice show. Should work well for me.

Also picked up a new Clam 8" Gas auger.

So now my auger needs should be fulfilled for quite some time.

[Tom Buckles]

My vote is for a 6"

[Lawrence Luoma]

my vote is a 5". 6" late ice.

[Eric_Kruger]

I have been over this in my head a hundred times before settling on an 8" hole, Its big enough for any fish I have caught as well as a ducer.

[BLT100]

Buy a 6" Nils and you'll be done looking forever.

By friend bought one, fantastic. Hands down best hand auger.

[mattpaumen]

I have always used an 8" bit, but I bought a 6" this fall to save a little time cutting holes. I'll keep the 8" for days when I'm fishing walleyes, but that doesn't happen much anymore. I fish panfish about 90% of the time and a 6" hole is just fine for that occassional toothy critter or bass!