Auger size

[scottiecoach]

Can anyone give me a minimum and a best size auger hole to cut for walleyes? I am looking at buying a new gas auger and there is quite a bit of difference in price between a 8 inch and a 10 inch.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

[gill man]

You could probably get by with a 6 inch if you needed to, but it wouldn't be ideal. In almost all cases, a 7 inch should be plenty, and I wouldn't want to go any bigger than 8 inches because I don't think you would need it, and drilling time will increase.

gill man

[waterwolff]

depending on species the 8 seems middle of the road

[Guest]

For walleyes, I have never seen one that will not fit through a 6 inch hole. I have a hand auger which is 6 inches that I use for walleye fishing here in New York. I have a power auger that is 8 inches and I would use that when going after pike. One nice thing about a 6 inch auger is they are faster drilling. If you are fishing walleyes (especially jigging for them) you will be moving. 6 inchers are very fast.

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Rob Taylor

[This message has been edited by Rick (edited 12-08-2002).]

[Guest]

One other thing, can you legally use an auger bigger than 8 inches in your state? Here in NY you cannot go over 8 inches.

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Rob Taylor

[This message has been edited by Rick (edited 12-08-2002).]

[Mankato-Ice-Man]

I have a 7 inch hand auger and 8 inch gas auger. If I am drilling it, 7 is perfect, but I like the 8 inch hole for the vex and ect.
6 inch hole seems to freeze over too quickly outside.

So hand 7, and gas 8 is my vote.

WalMart did have a 10 1/4 inch for 233.00 here in Mankato.

[Guest]

I actually just posted a topic about the problem I keep having with Walleyes bouncing off near the hole. Perhaps I would have less trouble with a larger auger. I think I heard somewhere that you can put 7 inch blades on a 6 inch hand auger and they will work. Don;t quote me on it but has anyone tried it?

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Rob Taylor
www.bendmyrod.com

[Wables]

I love my 10" auger! It makes it a lot easier to get the pigs turned up the hole, and gives you room for your ice-ducer. I have even been know to drill 2 holes overlapping under my permanent when I know I wont be moving for a while. I made my floor openings 12"X20" for this purpose. (Yes, I mark them when I leave!) I am sure the 8" would be faster, but the extra 5-10 seconds per hole is worth it in my book.

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Wables

[Steve Foss]

I have a 10-inch Strikemaster with a 3 hp motor. Wouldn't really want a smaller motor with that size auger. Big hole makes it really easy. Lot of room for the transducer, easier to turn a fish up the hole, room for a gaff, etc.

Never mind that there's no fish I'll ever catch that needs a 10-inch hole to come through, it's just a lot easier. I'd never get a power auger that drills anything smaller than 8 inches. And I guess I've never noticed that it takes me longer to drill a hole than guys with 8-inch augers. Most 8s are powered by 2 hp motors (not all, obviously), and I figure my 3 hp 10-inch is as fast as a 2 hp 8-inch.

Honestly, not that it matters. If it runs and drills a hole without you having to wrestle with it and crack a sweat, it's as good an auger as you need. Plenty of good used augers out there, too.

One drawback to the 10-inch. I use the round insulated 10-inch Frabill tip-ups a lot, and they just barely fit over the 10-inch hole. If I did only tip-ups and only that style, I'd back down to an 8- or 9-inch to make that easier.

Good luck.

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Steve Foss
Superior, Wis.
[email protected]

[Big Dave2]

I use a 3 hp jiffy with a 10" blade. I love the larger hole even for pan fishing because it gives you extra room for the vex. The only thing I dont like is the weight of this unit. I think I wish I would have bought a 2hp 8" lazer. Oh well live and learn. Every one calls mine the big ten inch!

[hunt4food]

I think the guys answered your question well, but one reason I don't like the 10" holes is because if you happen to step in one, it's big enough to wedge your boot in there and darn near break your leg! Yes. I have done it. Maybe I am just clumsy, but I have done it more than once. I fish mostly for pike with tip-ups and I went back to an 8". The odds are better than you would guess that sooner or later you are going to step in one and that's enough reason for me to stick with my 8" 3HP Jiffy.

[Ice Hole]

You will be plenty happy with a StrikeMaster Lazer 2hp 8" auger...its light...fast...and 8" is plenty for 99% of fishing. It also is one of the less expensive models.

[vern]

I have an 8" 2hp Lazermag. I love it! It cuts very fast. I agree with Big Dave, I think weight is the biggest factor. I'd rather fish with a 10" hole, but when your pulling your gear on foot & moving a lot, you will definately notice the extra weight of the 3 hp 10" auger. And those Frabill tip-ups are a little small for a 10" hole. Otherwise, I'd prefer a 10" auger. More room for the transducer, leading big fish through the hole etc. Vern

[Crawlerman]

Yup. I tend to agree on the "foot getting stuck" in the 10 inch holes... that thought allways crosses my mind. I guess it also depends on what part of the state you live in; if your up in big 20 # pike country or Mille Lacs, maybe a 10 incher would be useful. In the metro area its hard to imagine catching anything that won't fit through an 8 inch hole. I had a flasher transducer and line in a 6 inch hole with my old hand auger and it worked fine for sunnies and crappies. I am anxious however on getting my new Strikemaster mag 2hp runnning this year; and I got it at a Surplus store for $199 It was the last one too... went there today and all they had left was two display models for the larger 3hp ones.

[Matt D]

Everybody's got their preferences. A 6" hole is big enough for 99%+ of the fish you'll ever catch, but that 1% could be the fish of a lifetime. If I ever hook a fish that won't fit up an 8" hole, it deserves to swim another day! Yes, a 10" hole will make it easier to get fish started up, and may give you more room for the Vex transducer (I always drill a separate hole for it). But two considerations were important for me in deciding to buy an 8" power auger; one's already been mentioned. (1) Cutting time and (2) Icing fish ... How many times have you had a hook pop out AFTER you get a fish up a hole? With a 10", there's lots of room for a fish to either turn around in the hole or slide back down. I've iced many fish under this circumstance (sure, my hand/glove got wet), that I think might have slipped away in a bigger hole. Bigger ain't always better!

[This message has been edited by Matt D (edited 12-09-2002).]

[ifalls_archer]

I got a great deal on a 3hp 10" last year and have loved it, the only problem I have found is small kids. My boys are big enough now, but my daughter will be fishing for the first time next year (2 yr old) and when they are that small they will fit right down a 10" hole. So I am looking for a 7" blade for next year. But the 10 is great for vex and fish and anything else.

[Guest]

i agree that a 10" hole is too large because i have personally been in all day tounaments and stepped in my buddys holes that werent marked and that had blown over with snow and were not frozen, man was that tournement cold after that. I also fish with some friends that have small children and the youngest last year fell into a 10 inch hole of his dads friends and was lucky to have is dad holding his hand...my 2 cents worth at least be carefull if u do use 10" holes around small childrenn please!

[Swill]

Yeah if you have kids do even bother with a 10" hole. Unless you can ducktape the to their seat Just kidding... 8inch auger works seems to work for most fish...and electronics..

[Guest]

I have a Lazer 2HP purchased 4 seasons ago. It had an 8" blade. Last year I bought the 10" and use it exclusivley when the ice is over 6" thick, otherwise I use my 8" Lazer hand-powered.

The 10" hole has been so much easier to work out of than the 8", ducer, fish landing, etc. I fish mostly for 'Eyes, but like it for Pan fishing too.

Oh, and the 2Hp motor drills fine with the 10" blade--you don't need the weight, noise and hassle of the 3Hp--it's over-kill in my opinion.

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Chells

[Guest]

Man o' Man.

6" auger is fine if the ice is under 12" thick. After that, 8" is plenty sufficient, but pretty nescesery to guide bigger fish up without ripping them off on the ice below.

I use to be a fan of Jiffy...But now that I have a 2hp 8" Lazer Mag...well, I just wouldn't trade it for anything.

PCG

[Fish On]

i would never stray from my 8" 2hp jiffy best cutting auger if ever used