You don't need a 10 inch auger

[Roughfisher]

I pulled this through an eight inch hole on Saturday, and it was no problem:

Stick with an eight inch auger and save our kids and feet from freezing. If I can pull a forty-plus pounder through an eight inch hole, you can certainly manage a little 20 pound walleye.

[minnowhead]

May I ask what kind of fish that is?

[Seeker of Clayface]

Nice work Roughfisher! Wowsers!

[Mad Mulcher]

3 words: Ho lee buckets!

[Neiko]

I have never caught a sturgeon through the ice so I don't know how they fight. But I have caught a 38 inch Northern through the ice and I am glad I had a 10 incher. Since they don't want to cooperate that much.

[Roughfisher]

I can see using a ten inch hole when fishing for big pike. Makes sense. But I've landed plenty over 40 inches through my 8-incher. And lost a few, I'll admit!

[hondavxr]

Thats a nice sturgeon, where did you catch it? Looks like it might be the St Croix in the background. Great catch, and you don't need the 10 incher, I have caught many that were huge through the 8 incher also.

[Hecker]

Wow what a fish.

8" hole will work on just about any size fish except when you have 2 feet of ice or more. Under 5 inch of ice a 6 inch hole is perfect. Red lake crappies can turn around in a 10" hole if they get off your hook but with an 8" you have a second or two to grab em up. Just my experience.

Congrats on the fish

[Roughfisher]

It's more about your tackle than the size of the hole (OK that sounded kinky and it wasn't supposed to). If you are fishing for big fish, use heavy tackle so you can subdue the fish quickly and can guide their snout into the bottom hole opening without fear of losing it. I use a levelwind Garcia 5500 on a stout 2-foot rod, spooled with 50 pound Kevlar with a 30 pound fluorocarbon saltwater shock tippet. I also use big circle hooks for pike, which will NEVER pull out at the bottom of the hole, you will either break them off or land them. I haven't lost a big pike at the hole since switching to circle hooks. And you will never break them off unless they are too big in diameter to fit through the hole. If a pike is too big to fit through an eight inch hole, it is over fifty pounds and a new state record. Break out the chisel. If a sturgeon is too big to fit through the hole, reach down and cut the line with your fillet knife.

This is what you'll see:

[Big Paulie]

Now thats one heck of a fish. Way to go.

[LEECH21]

Awesome, simply awesome!

[bigb56303]

very nice fish and your correct you dont need a 10 inch hole but it is a personal preference, i have fished out of both, and i bought a 10 inch because its what i wanted, i like the 10 inch because i use my vex in the hole and it doesnt get tangeled up when i pull a fish up and i dont have to worry bout pulling i tout the hole every time i get a fish, yes you can fish a 8 but for me its just what i like , i actually would buy a 9 inch if i ever buy another auger because my frabil round tip ups barely fit a 10 inch but it still works just my 2 cents, again nice fish

[JohnMickish]

I do know for a fact that a 42" Musky will fit thru a 8" hole. I would have to guess that EVERY Walleye in the state of Minnesota will fit thru one too. But when the ice is deep, and your hooked in the corner of the mouth a 10" would be nice to get the fish turned. I use a 8" now because to many of my expensive electrical gadgets will fit down a 10" hole!

[get-the-net]

I agree completely.

Awesome photographs, I wish I had the presence of mind to remember to take a photo when a big fish is coming in!

[iffwalleyes]

Might not be necessary but it is sure nice to have. If only Nils Made a 10" I would be all over that one.

[FishTracker]

That second picture looks more like JAWS, except without the teeths showing.

Awesome catch! Congratulations!

[castmaster]

does a person need a 10 in auger? no. are they nice to have at times? you bet.

as someone else already mentioned, a 10 inch hole is nice when you have a transducer cord hanging in the hole, or a camera cord. also nice when setting up a wheeled house for a 3 or 4 day stay when the temps drop. no matter how well you have it banked a 10" hole is down to 8"(or less) by the end of the trip. start with an 8" and you'll be down to a 6"(or less) by the end.

[JWB475]

Quote:

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I also use big circle hooks for pike, which will NEVER pull out at the bottom of the hole, you will either break them off or land them. I haven't lost a big pike at the hole since switching to circle hooks.

---

What kind of circle hooks are you referring to? The ones that hook the fish in the corner of the mouth (I hope)?

[nytelyter]

i own both sizes i have a jiffy 8 and a strikemaster 10 when i am out on the runn and gun its the 8 that i travel with i will generally only use the 10 in my permenant as it does not move much after it hits the lake and those holes will close down on ya.as for dropping stuff down the hole. i find that if it falls. it will find the bottom of the lake no matter the hole size.

[CrappieJohn]

nyte....Ain't that the truth.