Hole diameter

[minnangler]

When fishing shallow water, say 10 foot or less. Do you think the hole diameter affects your fishing or catch rates.   So a five inch hole allows a lot less light then a eight inch hole.   Has any one noticed a coorliation?

[Kevin23]

ABSOLUTELY! That's why I still have a 5" auger, for shallow water crappie and bluegill (sub 5'). Too much light through the ice and the fish won't go below you, especially if its sunny and the ice is covered in snow.

[adkRoy]

I've never had any trouble with this.  I use an 8" auger and I believe that I've actually caught more fish due to the larger diameter hole.

[John_BZ]

For the lakes I fish it isn't worth it. The water is very stained so light penetration isn't as important. Plus an 8" hole gets awful small when trying to turn the fish of a lifetime vertical at the bottom of the hole. It's just easier with bigger holes. More room for the flasher. More room to turn fish. They take longer to refreeze. There is a time and place for 5" and 6" holes. Most of the time it is sitting in my barn while the 8" is getting used.

[jlbrownie_1]

I do 6 inch holes(cordless drill) until the ice is over 6+ inches thick then I step up to 8 inch holes(power auger).  I also have a 10 inch auger I haven't used in 15+ years or more.

[Icemole]

 I use hole covers on my tip-ups - my buddy doesn't. Some days I win other days he wins. It may be due to more "flash" from the shiner or him "jigging" it while he skims the holes - IDK.  Of course on the days he's winning I can remove my hole covers and play catch up..... something he can't do if I'm winning 

 I don't cover the hole while jigging panfish - however depending on where we are our shadows may fall on the holes. Haven't really tried a shadow vs. sunlight test yet.

[Joe in T.C.]

I like an 8 or 10" hole.
The larger the diameter,  the better the underwater view.
I'm in a flip over, so it's almost like a TV screen to the lake bottom.
I'm always surprised by the number of larger fish that hang back away from the bait that can be enticed in if you know they are there.

Good Luck All

[Gills-only]

Makes no difference in my opinion !

[bryan_ej]

Never noticed a difference

[dogfish]

Another hot topic every year "hole size"!

As far as I am concerned,  go 10 or go home.  If they still made 12 inchers I would have one of those.

[VTMatt]

Well, I prefer a 6 most of the times unless maybe an 8 for pike tipups.

Only issue I have with an 8 is falling in one. I fell into one today that was invisible because wind covered it.  Soaked my leg and foot. The worst part is I couldn't get out at first. My boot bent on the way down to go through, so pulling it out was 100 times harder. Started to get really worried after about a minute....dunno what would have happened if I couldn't have gotten it out if I was by myself.....and if my phone was left in the shanty..ugh. 

[32footsteps]

If my three year old is with me the biggest I’ll use is a 6. If she isn’t then I’ll use whichever auger I happen to grab. Pulled plenty of nice sized pike through 6 and 7 inch holes. As far as I’m concerned, unless I’m targeting salmon, the perfect hole size is 7”. I wish more companies would make that size.

[badger132]

X2 on using the minimum that works. We have a kids fishing day every year, and when we drilled big holes with a gas auger, kids find 'em. I also feel that I get some fish that come off just at the hole because they can not turn around. Scoop em out by hand. I even have time to take my gloves off so I don't get them wet.
 

[grababrewski]

Use a chunk of cardboard or something for a hole cover if you're worried about the "flashlight effect"