How big a hole?

[Mueller]

I am going to buy an ice auger and need to know what size I need. The fellow that sells them said a 9" is big enough. Never really did much ice fishing so I'm in the dark. So I would like to know if I should get a 9 or 10 incher.

Thanks

Mueller

[Ryan_V]

I have an 8 and that is plenty big. if you will be using it in an ice house, you won't want any bigger than an 8. you should also consider weight. the 9's and 10's are much heavier than the 8's. there isn't a fish in a minnesota lake that you can't pull through an 8 inch hole.

[metrojoe]

Do you do a lot of pike fishing?

Is auger weight a concern?

I've never found any need for an auger over 8", and of course the bigger the auger the more it weighs. I went with an 8" - 2.0 HP.

[beer batter]

I agree, go with the 8" auger. Anything bigger is flat out dangerous in my mind. Kids, pets, or even adult legs can fall through 10" holes and causes serious damage. The same CAN happen with 8" holes but much less likely.

[Reynolds]

Coming from a guy that has a 10" auger, go with an 8". Like Ryan V said, if you are using a 10" auger inside a fish house, you are more likely to end up hitting the sides of the hole when you are drilling, which can bend your auger or rip up the side of your hole in your house. Also the 10" auger is going to add a significant amount of weight. I would definitely go with a lighweight 8" auger.

[MuskieJunkie]

I've always used an 8" auger and it is plenty big. Plus the holes are easier to drill than a 10".

[Mueller]

How big of a fish can you bring up through an 8" hole?

[Woodland]

As long as you can turn the fish up the hole, a fish would have to have a girth of over 24" to not fit up an 8" hole.

[hanson]

8"

[Gissert]

I have had a 10 inch auger for the last decade - my next auger will be an 8.

[deadminnowcatcher]

8 inches should do the trick

[doser]

Quote:

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8 inches should do the trick

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That's what she said!

[rosspj59]

The fish would need to be pretty big around to not fit through a 8 inch hole. Circumference for the hole would be 8*pi or 25.12 inches around. Circumference=2pi*r. Most fish aren't that big around including northerns. Sometimes a 10" hole can be a detriment because fish can turn around in the hole.

[efgh]

I have a 7in. Task. Plenty big enough. we pulled a couple of 15 lb. pike thru this size hole. I am pretty proud of this auger, bought it on a auction sale 10 years ago. Its 30 years old and was purchased in St. Cloud by my father=in-law and resold to his neighbor, he bought 2. It weighs about two thirds as much as a Strickmaster. It was made in Japan. I wonder if any of the fellow F.M.s own one of these?

[Northlander]

I have a 8" Nils now and I like it for everything I do. At times I wish I had a 9" for tip ups but thats not that often. A 8" cuts faster/easier and unless your fishing LARGE pike. Lakers, Strugion etc. you will be ok with 8".

[pathogen]

8" is great, anything else bigger is a luxury. A friend of mine discovered that a Vexilar Ultra Pack will fit down a 10" hole.....

[katofishingguy]

8" does the job just fine. I have had a lazer mag express for 2 yrs now and I really like it.

[OldBear]

8" will do just fine. Lighter, cuts faster.

[fishtrapgirl]

Right now all I have is a 10". Works great for tip ups but is way to big for inside the fish house. Hope to get an 8" this year.

[castmaster]

i guess i'm the oddball on this one. i have a 10" and thats what i'll buy next. i also have a smaller hand auger for early ice when walking out and weight is a concern(plus dont need anything else then) and the rest of the time i am carrying it on the atv or truck so weight isnt an issue.

i like the 10" because it leaves more room for vexilar cable and float or a camera cable etc. an 8" hole and you pretty much HAVE to pull the vex float every time or your tangled. with the 10" crappies, sunnies and perch can usually be brought up without pulling the float.

[Corey Bechtold]

8" Strikemaster. Check out the new Strike Lite 4 Stroke. Otherwise I have had great luck with my Mag III 2 hp that I added a 8" Lazer bit years ago. It is incredibly smooth and fast throught the Ice. Also, their Customer Service is among the best in the industry.

Good luck,

Corey Bechtold

[Joel Taylor]

I don't know about this one. If your driving out, a big hole is always nice. A 10" hole takes longer to freeze in from the sides. I like a bigger target when that 32" waldo is comming up with her mouth wide open. I've had lots of big trout and a few huge eyes come through a 8" hole like a plunger. ONCE YOU'VE GOT THAT ONCE IN A LIFETIME FISH ON YOU CAN'T CHANGE YOUR HOLE FROM 8" TO 10"! Thud, thud, thud, on the bottom of your hole......

[ec30_06]

I like my 9" because it fits in the fish house, not too big for for igloo tip-ups but big enough you don't have to pull up the vex. And it takes an extra day or two to freeze shut from the sides.

[Tinkhamtown]

Have one 10" Jiffy 3 HP and two 8" Jiffy 2 HP. I prefer the 8" holes and the lightweight of the 2 HP. They cut holes all day week after week and I've never had problem re-drilling holes in our house that stays on the ice. Tink

[mskyfshntchr]

I have a 10" auger. Only way to go for me. In my shack, I made the hole size big enough to fit for a 10" auger...that was planned out before building it. My dad thinks I am nuts and that it is too big, but when he fishes pike or walleyes with me on tip ups, he sure like the extra room to get those bigger fish through the hole.

It all comes down to your need and/or wants. If you get a 10" you DON'T have to get a 3hp. The 10" augers have run on 2hp motors for a long time and will keep doing so. That would save you a little weight.