8" or 10"

[hooknhunter]

This last winter I hooked a fish too big to fit through my 7" hole. []. I know, it's a good problem to have.....

My wife has given me permission to get a power auger this winter and I've been leaning towards a 10". It is not legal to have a hole bigger than 10" where I live. Now I'm wondering, could I go 8" and drill overlapping holes (assuming I have chipper blades)? Which would be the better way to go?

The lake I fish that I might need a hole that big rarely get ice thicker than about 15 inches or so. So 2 overlapping 8" holes wouldn't be that hard to do. On the other hand, some of the lakes I fish where I don't need a 10" hole, the ice sometimes gets over 30 inches. I'm thinking a 10" hole in 30 inches of ice might be pretty hard on a motor.

Does anyone have any thoughts?
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[hooknhunter]

So, I've been thinking about this some more and I think I have it nailed down.

I'm going to get the 10" and make an adapter for my old StrikeMaster 7" so I can use either auger bit on the power head.
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[davetclown]

it is not advisable to drill over lapping holes. over lapping of holes is dangerous, not to mention hard on the auger and opperator.

insted, drill two holes side by side and use a spud to connect the holes. giving you a 10x20+ hole.

I have an auger that cuts a 10 inch hole, I havent used it in years because it is so hevey and is nearly 35 years old.

I have a new one that cuts a 8 inch hole, I do well though it but do have to work at getting the bigger ones up though it. here is a pic of one that just barely fit in my 8 inch hole.

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Yep, I did mangle a fin geting him up. trying to get a 10 inch fish up an 8 inch hole.[:p]

on a power auger, a 10 hole is no harder than a 6 inch. may be a little slower, but well worth the weight. especialy when you start pulling up 15 inch crappie.[cool]
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[davetclown]

I forgot to add, you can use a spud to chip out the bottom of the hole to make the entry less sharper, wider and easier to guide your catch to the top.
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[hooknhunter]

[quote hooknhunter]So, I've been thinking about this some more and I think I have it nailed down.

I'm going to get the 10" and make an adapter for my old StrikeMaster 7" so I can use either auger bit on the power head.[/quote]

And get a spud bar.......[]
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[Fishrmn]

Don't know about where you guys are, but that hole that you create when you use a spud bar and connect them, is illegal here in Utah.

When you’re fishing through the ice, you may not fish through a hole that’s more than 12 inches wide. The only exceptions are at Bear Lake, Flaming Gorge Reservoir and Fish Lake. For more information about ice fishing at these waters, please see Rules for specific waters on page 20.

Those places allow an 18" opening. Still less than the 20" hole that you describe. If you were precise, you could cut three 8" holes in a triangle pattern and connect them at those three lakes.
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[davetclown]

I am in michigan.

we can not make a hole larger than 12 inches with out putting a safty marker over it.

we have guys who make holes here that reach 24inches x 6feet.

they are primarily spearing pike, but many do fish for pan fish when the preditor fish are not around.
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[hooknhunter]

10 inches is our maximum here in Idaho. I know I need a hole bigger than 7 inches. I hooked a fish last year that wouldn't fit through the 7 inch hole. I've decided I'm going to get the 10 inch. Thanks for all the input everyone.

I feel a chill in the air[]. Won't be long now. By my figures we're about 8-10 weeks out depending on how aggressive one is about getting on early ice and weather.
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[davetclown]

if you are carying a spud, you can chip open one side of the hole fairly easy, no one said the hole had to be round. [:p]
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[hooknhunter]

Right. And I can see that it wouldn't be too difficult to do if the ice is 8 or 10 inches thick, but when the ice approaches 30 inches as it does here sometimes, I would think that it would be very difficult. Am I wrong about that?
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[davetclown]

not difficult, but time consuming for sure.

I would swing for a 10" too, I have an 8" on my new one and will one day upgrade it to a 10 when I find the funds. all they had on the shelf when I got mine was 8s and under, all the 10s were gone.
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