Hole size

[SconnieFisherman]

Just a quick question-I just moved out here from Minnesota and took anything that could fit in my car an my auger didn't make the cut.  So once I got out here I bought a 6" had auger to save on the work it took to drill holes but after seeing the size of some of the fish being caught up here I've become a little weary about the hole diameter.  Has anybody not been able to get a fish through a six inch hole out here?

To rephrase:  Does size matter?

[gulp]

Its not how big the fish is. Its trying to get a large fish to turn up nose first into a small hole. It get harder the deeper the ice gos. I have a 6in that I use untill the ice gets to be 8in or more. Then I switch to a 8in auger. Good luck and stay safe.

[_colorado]

IMO a 6" auger will get all but the largest pike out of the hole.  As an FYI, Colorado does have a 10" diameter hole maximum for an ice hole.

I have a 4" hand auger that I sometimes pack into the high country for early ice.  Good enough for high country brookies and cutts.

[thebig1]

I use a 7" on my auger and haven't had any issues getting a fish up.

[mcnasty4233]

10'' For Lake trout, i would hate to hook a 30lber and try and drag it up a small hole

[fire-n-ice]

 I saw two guys trying to pull a monster pike a elevenmile through a 6 inch hole! After about 45 minutes they got him out but not without the help from a tire iron from some dudes car! Frantic chipping!