Ice Auger question?

[Crimson]

[]Maybe this has been discussed already, but didn't see it.

I don't want to get into the powered augers just yet, so I was thinking of buying a 4 inch dia size hand auger.

I've heard that the drilling is much easier and faster than with a 8 inch (my current one) or larger. I'm sure that I could get most fish I catch through a 4 inch hole.

Any hands on experience out there?

Cabelas has a 4 incher, but it is pricy at $79.

Thanks ahead of time for any info.

Crimson
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[polokid]

The smaller the diameter, the easier the drilling is correct. But if I wanted to downsize my auger for easier drilling, I wouldnt go under 6 inches. I imagine a 4 inch auger would work well for perch fishing, but for larger trout like on Strawberry, Scofield a 4 inch wouldnt be impossible, but much more difficult to bring fish through the hole.

I have a 8 inch hand auger and with new blades every year, I have had no problem drilling ice.
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[PREDATOR]

I have a six inch and an eight inch hand auger.
The six inch has less surface area and is much easier to drill with, but I use the six incher for pan fish.
Yeah you can pull a trout through the six inch holes but its not as easy as you would think if you fish strawberry a lot and have bigger trout.
Sure they arent six inches in diameter but getting them pertical enough to pull them up is tougher with the smaller dia hole.
I stick with the 8 inch auger for trout and bigger fish.
I use the 6 incher for bluegill and perch.
I cant imagine a 4 incher. Thats super small.
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[IceFishingGod]

I have a 4" KB from Sweden I bought at a yard sale 30 years ago for a buck. Come get it and it's yours. It's just taking up room in my basement. I live in Syracuse.

[Crimson]

[]Thanks for all the recommendations, and the offer of the 4 inch auger, but I'm convinced that a 6 incher is probably as small as I should go. Even when targeting pan fish, its true that a larger fish is always a possibility!

Thanks for the offer!
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[sliverslinger]

Stick with the 6-8" augers and do what polokid recomends. Spend the extra 8-10 bucks and buy new blades every year- I actually do it a few times because I drill a lot of holes! It is the best few dollars that you will ever spend. It blew me away how many people lugged out heavy, noisy power augers yesterday at the Berry for ony a few inches of ice. Sure, when there gets to be a few feet of ice, or someone who physically can't use a hand auger a power auger is nice and I would rather them fire one up than not fish, but my recomedations are go light, go quiet, and catch a lot more fish! Jake
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