Ice Auger Size for Big Channels.

[Tyler Holm]

I’m going to be optimistic here.

I plan on doing a ton of ice fishing for cats down here this winter. We put a couple cats in the boat with a girth of about 20” so that’s going to be my baseline. According to my mostly forgotten High School (and college) math, that is a diameter of about 6.4”

So optimistically thinking I need a hole big enough to fit a channel with a diameter of 6.5” through including its 3 pesky spines (which are roughly 2”). From all the ice videos I’ve watched, the fish do their best to keep their spins locked outwards, so I’m guessing these could become a factor on larger fish.

Has anybody ever had a problem getting a cat in the low to mid teens through an 8” hole, or 9”? Can you envision a problem there?

Personally I’m thinking it’s going to take a 9” auger, but I’m certainly open to suggestion. In the model I’m looking at it is only a few dollars more and 1lb heavier for the 9” over the 8”. Plus everybody I know already has an 8” so I have plenty of access to that size if I wish.

IMO the 10” is overkill and it would take a ton of convincing to persuade me in that direction.

Your thoughts…

[sparcebag]

Tylor I hope ya catch one that big through the ice

[Scott K]

I have a 10" and have hooked a 20 pound flat through the ice years ago, it fit. Although I think if that flatty would have had any fight to him I wouldnt have gotten the old girl up. I thought I caught a passing by log, and it never did fight, just was like pulling up a log, then I seen the big mouth aimed straight up my ice hole, reached down and grabbed it, and then released it.

[Ralph Wiggum]

I got an 8lber through a 6" hole last year, so I would think a 9" would be plenty for most any channel cat you're gonna catch.

[hanson]

I'll guarantee you one thing Tyler, if you have a hole large enough for a 20lb kitty, you won't catch one. Now if you go out on the ice with a hole not big enough... you never know what might happen. LOL!

I pulled my biggest ice cat (10lbs) through an 8" hole with absolutely not problem or issues whatsoever.

[fiskyknut]

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plenty for most any channel cat you're gonna catch.

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Whoa you 2 are justa rippin on old Tyler!

I lay odds he breaks both the 8 and 10 pound records!

Pull a 24lbr!....Tyler I suppose you have a 50 something inch Woodle rod or something customed already for handling such a fish?

Think ice, till then jig.

[Ralph Wiggum]

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plenty for most any channel cat you're gonna catch.

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Whoa you 2 are justa rippin on old Tyler!

I lay odds he breaks both the 8 and 10 pound records!

Pull a 24lbr!....Tyler I suppose you have a 50 something inch Woodle rod or something customed already for handling such a fish?

Think ice, till then jig.

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LOL, Fisky!

Not a rip on Tyler at all! I should have said, "plenty big for most any channel cat."

[so haaad]

Tyler,

You shouldn't have any problems pulling an all-day skunk through an 8" hole.

My biggest on the Horseshoe was 12 lbs and brought her up through an 8" hole. You shouldn't have have any problem with piggies in the lower teens.

[Shack]

If I was going to throw down money for another auger or a new one, I would throw it at a 10" Jiffy.

I like the 10" hole for my fish house on Mille Lacs. The distance from floor to ice and nice big hole for slower closeing time.

Another thing to consider is one of those things you attach to the end of your auger that turns the hole into a funnel. I think this would be a good purchase for cat fishing threw the ice.

If you minid is set on a 8", I figure it will do a fine job.

[Ralph Wiggum]

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If I was going to throw down money for another auger or a new one, I would throw it at a 10" Jiffy.

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You've got a strong back!

[Shack]

They are not that much differnt. I have a buddy who has one and I have cut a few hole with it.

My Mag 2000 8" is a little lighter, but not much.

[Shack]

I just checked and found to upgrade my 8" single chipper auger to a 10" single chipper auger would run about $120.00 and add 3lbs to the units weight (this would be my Strike Master mag 2000). I might think about going this route.

[IceHawk]

I personally fish alot of cats through the ice and I haven't personally had any problems pulling cats through a 8 inch hole. My personal best on ice was close to 16 lbs and she came up a 8 inch hole with a little work!

[Matt Johnson]

Landed one just shy of 16 pounds that fit through an 8-inch hole. But like IceHawk said, it takes a little bit of nudging here and there For most of your fish you're probably fine with an 8-inch, but to be completely safe I would say go with a 9-incher if you plan on mainly targeting kitties and you know the potential of catching a cow is there...

[The Chemist]

I've had one time out on the chain where I couldn't get a cat up an 8" hole. Pinned his head right under the ice. The ice was clear so I could see him and it would've been a close call on getting him up but I made the mistake of allowing a little slack in the line.

[TRZ]

I have caught dozens of cats on the croix over the years and have had several flatheads that would not fit through a 8 inch hole, i have had them by the tail trying to pull them through but no dice, couple in the 40-50 lb range. never had a channel that would not fit but if i was fishing for them i would for sure go with the 10 inch hole.

[crazyice]

I'm puzzled, if you caught a flathead, I would assume that it ATE the bait, therefore the head would naturally be first up the hole, how in the heck did you manage to grab the tail??

[Larry FlatCaster]

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I'm puzzled, if you caught a flathead, I would assume that it ATE the bait, therefore the head would naturally be first up the hole, how in the heck did you manage to grab the tail??

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Interesting question to pose. It would be aweful hard to snag a cat through a hole I would think.

And you can imagine once the pec spines flare... You would never get them up....... hmmmm

[TRZ]

I have always got them jigging for walleye of crappie so the fights have been long by the time they are at the hole you can grab the tail if the head will not fit. i have gotten a few in that way but others have been too big. i don't care much for cats in general as far as eating i just wanted my spoon back.