Hi NoLimitSoldier,I can tell you only what i know and that is I've only been to echo once this year and that was last week-end when I luckily brought home a limit of "decent' perch.We weren't anywhere near the actual open water and I didn't see anyone really fishing anywhere near it so I'm not sure how close you could safely get.We were out from the school at the reserve on echo in anywhere from 15-22' of water and caught fairly well.One buddy was in around the 10 foot and he even caught a dozen or so that day.I had more luck in the 20 foot range.I also have a brother-in-law that has two ice augers that he possibly might want to sell,one is a old Jiffy and the other is a Taz.If your interested I can sure ask him and see what he wants for them if there for sale?Let me know and I'll ask.