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Ice Fishing Tips -Check your local regulations! => Bass => Topic started by: chuck172 on Dec 31, 2005, 01:06 AM

Title: six inch hole for bass?
Post by: chuck172 on Dec 31, 2005, 01:06 AM
I'm fishing for mainly bass and pickeral. Will a six inch hole with my lazor do it?
Can I upgrade the six to an eight by just changing blades.?
Title: Re: six inch hole for bass?
Post by: bigdave1018 on Dec 31, 2005, 02:29 AM
a 6 inch hole is the universal size hole. a lot of guys use an 8 in hole if their lake choice has really big pike. ive had a few lm bass on that wouldnt fit through a 6 in hole. some guys that only target perch like 4 in holes.tight lines and welcome chuck. big dave out
Title: Re: six inch hole for bass?
Post by: chuck172 on Dec 31, 2005, 05:34 AM
Do you recommend I exchange the 6" auger and get the LD-8? I know hand drilling with the 6" will be alot easier. 
Is it more generally accepted to drill 8" holes for tip ups and 6" for panfish jigging?
Title: Re: six inch hole for bass?
Post by: NickP on Dec 31, 2005, 10:37 AM
I bought a 6in lazer this year (hand drill for panfish i guess) I was jiggin away and got nailed on a tiny 1/32ounce jig- this was about the 10th fish i caught through a hole made by my new auger (got it the day after christmass at dicks) This was the day after that (tuesday) I got the fattest bass ive ever caught throuhg the ice at almost 5pound (21inlong) he came right throught he hole and had about an inch left of space- he went down easy too- the worst scenario is you have to drill another hole right next to it nmaking it wider. This lazer is so much better then a more- have you noticed the edges of the holes are rounded?!???!
Title: Re: six inch hole for bass?
Post by: Pasquatch on Dec 31, 2005, 01:39 PM
Unless you're dealing with 7-8 pound bass, you should be fine with a 6inch hole. Lazers are good augers, I have a 4 inch and 8 inch that I used before I got my Nils Master.... :P
Title: Re: six inch hole for bass?
Post by: BobWhite on Dec 31, 2005, 05:00 PM
Get the 8 trust me I fish for big bass and pike and last year I got a 7 pounder and it had to squeeze throu and 8 inch fresh hole why lose the fish of your life? State record bass and can't get him throu the hold oh well cut the line!!!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: six inch hole for bass?
Post by: NickP on Dec 31, 2005, 10:03 PM
I dont think so bob- if i had a state record I would make sure my buddy drilled a quick 3 or 4 holes to widen that sucker up! SCREW CUTTING THE LINE WERE DIEHARD! im sure most icefisherman would do the same.
Title: Re: six inch hole for bass?
Post by: Pasquatch on Dec 31, 2005, 11:05 PM
I can't imagine having to squeeze a 7lb fish through an 8 inch hole....I've pulled 12 pound lakers and similarly sized pike through 8" holes without any problems....drill an extra couple holes if you get that big of a fish that it won't fit.

Get the auger you'd like, I think a 6 inch will serve you fine if that's what you already have and don't want to drop around 80 dollars for a new Lazer.

I wouldn't advise putting differently sized blades on your auger...
Title: Re: six inch hole for bass?
Post by: BobWhite on Jan 01, 2006, 01:12 PM
If you have a buddy handy all the time then I guess drilling a few holes while you apply pressure to the bass would work just don't make the hole illegal and get fined more then the 39.99 8 inch Mora cost.  If you fish for Bass the you never know when the next big one is coming up and I would never fish with a 6 inch auger for bass.        Do you really think the guy who said buy the bigger auger would cut the line???
Title: Re: six inch hole for bass?
Post by: farmer ted on Jan 01, 2006, 06:25 PM
Six is fine, I have caught 6 lb bass and landed them through a 5" hole .
Title: Re: six inch hole for bass?
Post by: NickP on Jan 01, 2006, 09:02 PM
Your not gonna get fined unless you make a hole bigger then 1foot by 1foot on a lake of less then 50 acres or 50 feet from shore- the idea is there so no snowmobiles go nose first into one.
Title: Re: six inch hole for bass?
Post by: BJ on Jan 03, 2006, 07:17 PM
I use a 10 inch Jiffy and have no problems bringing in 6 pound bass through the hole!!
Title: Re: six inch hole for bass?
Post by: BobWhite on Jan 03, 2006, 09:42 PM
Thats the way to do it man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 
Title: Re: six inch hole for bass?
Post by: RyGuy on Jan 04, 2006, 08:37 PM
Unless you're dealing with 7-8 pound bass, you should be fine with a 6inch hole. Lazers are good augers, I have a 4 inch and 8 inch that I used before I got my Nils Master.... :P

I don't know.  My 2005 Iceshanty Tourney Winner 7# 23 1/2 " largie did just fine coming outta a 6" Jiffy hole (and so didn't his kid brother 5# about 1 hour later).

Title: Re: six inch hole for bass?
Post by: BobWhite on Jan 05, 2006, 09:49 PM
(((((I don't know.  My 2005 Iceshanty Tourney Winner 7# 23 1/2 " largie did just fine coming outta a 6" Jiffy hole (and so didn't his kid brother 5# about 1 hour later).)))))

If they are boys wonder what the sisters look like 10-15 pounders lol
Title: Re: six inch hole for bass?
Post by: pirkaus on Jan 06, 2006, 06:09 AM
I used a 6" for years and was able to "squeeze the big ones throgh"
Hand drilling an 8" hole in 2ft of ice, your arms won't fit in your jacket
Title: Re: six inch hole for bass?
Post by: thorzep on Jan 25, 2006, 05:49 PM
after losing a nice northern through a 6in hole because i couldnt get his head turned up so i could grab hold of him(he unhooked as a friend tried to drill a hole right next to it to make it bigger as i held the line away)  I went out and bought a 8" mora (couldnt afford lazer)  sure it takes more elbow grease but i only use it for my tip up holes and i have the 6in for panfish.  Well i ended up catching my biggest bass to date a FAT 22in  i didnt weigh it because i didnt have a scale and i allways relese gamefish.  Thing is .....I pulled him out with little effort But i actualy had to squeeze him a little bit to get him back in the hole...i know that i would not have got that fish through a 6in hole.  just my 2 cent
Title: Re: six inch hole for bass?
Post by: BobWhite on Oct 28, 2006, 07:31 PM
on ebay I see thing that make the bottom of the hole bigger like a funnel so the fish slide right up. Look great to me.
Title: Re: six inch hole for bass?
Post by: Van_Cleaver on Nov 08, 2006, 09:19 PM
I wouldn't trade in the 6'', it's a great auger; mine is on it's fifth season. However, in Southeast PA where I live, the bass (LM) tend to be short but portly around the middle. I've taken off my gloves and dragged 18'' fish through 6" holes after lipping them. Now, I usually target panfish, but every once in a while, pull out an old 7" Mora for bass. Provides a little more wiggle room, so to speak.
Title: Re: six inch hole for bass?
Post by: camo_fish on Nov 08, 2006, 10:46 PM
most fish will fit thru a 6" hole, they are much easier to hand drill and if that is what you got, then it's fine.
I personally fish thru a 8" or 9" hole.
As long as you can lip or gaff your fish, you should be able to get it thru a 6" hole.
But, on very cold days that 6" hole turning into 5" or so by the end of the day.
If I'm perch fishing and moving around 6" is fine, if I put out my tipups got to be a 8" or 9" hole.
It hard for me to fish thru a tiny 6" hole after always fishing in a 8" or bigger, never even owned a 6" auger.  8)
Title: Re: six inch hole for bass?
Post by: BobWhite on Nov 17, 2006, 07:35 PM
Do you think the Mass state record bass over 15 pounds that was caught ice fishing was taken out of a 6 inch hole???????????
Title: Re: six inch hole for bass?
Post by: camo_fish on Nov 17, 2006, 11:48 PM
Do you think the Mass state record bass over 15 pounds that was caught ice fishing was taken out of a 6 inch hole???????????
no idea, sounds like it would have to be a double 6" or 8" or 10".  :o 15 lbs.  8)
Title: Re: six inch hole for bass?
Post by: KissMyBassNH on Jan 03, 2007, 10:22 AM
i have a 10 inch whole and im glad i did when i caught my 6 1/2 pound 22inch trophy bass lol he barley fit