Best 9" auger?

[pugh]

I am looking at purchasing a new auger and was thinking of going with a 9 inch bit.  75% of my fishing will be from a wheel house with other 25% run and gun, so weight is of some concern, as is smoke and fumes inside the shack.  If the ion came in a 9 inch model that would be my first choice, but it doesnt.  Anyone got any first hand experience with different models? 

[wipike]

I think Jiffy's the only company still making a 9" auger. 

[RussW]

So why a 9" auger?   There are a lot that make a 8"  And you can pull a huge fish from a 8"   And if you buy a Nils 8" power auger you get a hand crank handle as well.  Its not cheap but as said on many a thread....Nils is the best.  I have a handcrank 8" nils, I can drill 12" ice with no issues.   Also I dont know where you are from and regulations on lakes by you but I am from upstate New York """The King of all STUPID Regulations and laws""" and a hand crank is all you can use on some lakes.  Yup....no gas motors in the summer, means no gas augers in the winter!!   So My vote is for a 8" Nils Power if you got the $$$ or a hand crank for the exercise.

[pugh]

I was thinking a 9 because I wanted a little bigger then the 8 for pulling fish thru and always using a vex, but don't like the idea of a 10 because frabill thermal tip ups wont work with them and my foot will fit through a 10. 

I pulled a 27 inch walleye thru a 8 inch hole last weekend and it took three times to get his head started through, each missed opportunity is a chance for failure with them bigger fish. 

[Drift Dodger]

I was thinking a 9 because I wanted a little bigger then the 8 for pulling fish thru and always using a vex, but don't like the idea of a 10 because frabill thermal tip ups wont work with them and my foot will fit through a 10. 

I pulled a 27 inch walleye thru a 8 inch hole last weekend and it took three times to get his head started through, each missed opportunity is a chance for failure with them bigger fish.

I lost a large walleye recently as well, trying to get it started up a 9 inch hole. This was with two feet of ice. Thicker ice does makes it somewhat more difficult to get large or very active fish aligned into and up the hole.