what size hand auger?

[mrpike1973]

Will not be able to buy power auger, & would like some advice on buying a lazer hand auger. What size would be good for catching smaller pike? Any advice would be appreciated.

[bak2MN]

buy a power auger, i started with a hand auger, went out twice went and bought a jiffy. They last forever. PRICELESS!!!!!!

[pkwalleye]

8inch

[Dave S]

Had an 8" that worked great. Takes no time at all to burn a hole in 12" of ice with good blades. Thicker ice will depend on your endurance with any hand auger.

[Jari Razskazoff]

walmart offers a credit card. walmart offers power augers.

If you fall behind on your credit card, you can now ask your government to bail you out.

Buy a power auger.

[NAMASafetyDirector]

Alot of places also offer a layaway program that would allow you to pay money on it as you happen to get a few extra bucks here and there if you start now you will have a pretty good jump on a power auger by ice time! Just a thought...

[Phred52]

mrpike1973, I agree with the second post! I've been into this for the better part of 40 years, I started with a hand spoon auger, then an 8" drill. Icefishing just became a CHORE. I got my first gas Strikemaster and I'll NEVER go back. Now, I EASILY convince myself I need an 'icefishin' fix', I believe I do catch more (mobility factor) and I've found that when I get home I'm in better shape, rather than worn out and fishless. If you watch the for-sale forum on FM, you should have NO PROBLEM finding a used auger (8" is just fine) for a price you can afford. You will not regret the purchase!! Phred52

[Northlander]

I have a 8" Strikemaster Lazer hand auger and its a great easy working hand auger. Nils also makes a very very good hand auger but more pricey.

[Huey]

For a long time I used a 7" strikemaster. That size hole worked fine for everything; lake trout, some nice pike (up to 8 lbs or so), walleye, and crappies, yet was pretty easy to drill a hole with. Easier than my buddies 8" auger, but not night and day different. I now use a 6" strikemaster for early ice, drills even easier and is nice for crappies and walleye, but might be on the small side for pike fishing.

Good luck.

My $.02, Huey

[copperjohn]

I have an 8 in Mora(swedish) for early and late ice and always in the vehicle for a back up. I think the lazer is nicer, but take care of the blades and most do well enough. Get a good spud bar,to, for testing ice and opening holes.

But for speed and multi-hole fish hunting , nothing beats power. Save up and look in classifieds, Craig's List, etc. The can take a lot of abuse and last for decades so a good used one might be the ticket. Or Save and get an Icegater and rule the hardwater.

[Quetico]

I'm getting a 8" Strike Master Lazer this year for those early season outtings when the ice is still less than 10". They are lighter and far more dependable than gas augers for early season thin ice conditions.

[jwhjr]

I'm planning on getting a hand auger for early ice this year as well. I love my gas auger, but it can be a pain to pull around at times.

[Sandmannd]

I used a hand auger the first year and only went out twice with it. I went out a few more times than that but with someone with a power auger. Then I found a used Jiffy and used it for a year and a half and then last year I got the strikemaster. You can find nice used stuff for just over a hundy.

[Neighbor_guy]

I have an 8" jiffy and it gets a lot of use. I also have a 6" mora hand auger that gets even more use. With sharp blades I can out cut the jiffy with the mora.

If you play the fish right, you can pull a good size pike threw a 6" hole.

[NCLaker]

7" Lazer hand auger for early ice, and as a backup to my power auger.