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It takes about 80% more effort to drill an 8in hole vs a 6in hole. The circumference of a 6in hole (pi * 6) is 18.84in.Using the basic walleye weigh formula: Length (squared) X Girth (divided by) 1200 = weightIt would take a 30in 14lb walleye to fill a 6in hole, and it would still fit.For a pike: WEIGHT = LENGTH x GIRTH2 It would take a 40in pike at about 14lbs to fill a 6in hole, and it would still fit.Remember to, the girth of a fish is measure around their mid section. Typically comprised of flesh and organs. Meaning, if u do catch a fish bigger than 18in circumference, u can most likely fit it thru because the mid section is squishy..
All those formulas (and the size fish you can "fit" through a certain diameter hole) are great, on paper.Start taking into account the fish fighting, head thrashing, cold weather making an 8 inch hole a six inch hole in short time, where the fish is hooked, etc., etc, and those "paper factoids" become quickly irrelevant....
It was still hard to get the fish though so I had to put my hand in there to get it out. Reason it was so hard is because she snagged it in the stomach. So 18" fish would not come through the 8" hole. Yeah a lot of factors on choosing an auger.
Can do the same thing with a 6in hole
After asking the same question is a 6 inch hole big enough it is for pan fish. After this weekend I lost 3 nice pike because I could not get them started up the hole. Now I have an 8 inch also. Best of both worlds. As many have given me advice what if that trophy is down there and you can't get it up the hole. You will hang your head as I did.
So I went out ice fishing for the first time this past weekend and man was it a pain in the ass to use a 8" Eskimo hand auger through 7-9 inches of ice. I have always heard that the smaller the auger the easier it will be to use but was nervous if I get a huge pike I wouldn't be able to bring it up. Is it really that much of a difference to get a 6" auger or should I just suck it up and keep using a 8" auger?