Auger recommendation

[heshootshescores]

I need an auger that will cut 2 interconnected holes.....basically a 8-inch hole overlapping another so they connect and the result is a really big hole to fish out of. Know what I mean? Ice will be about 36-48 inches..... need some power. Have any of you done this before?

[Grizzly1]

There's an ice auger forum farther down the page, you'll find tons of good info there.

I run a Jiffy Model 30 10", so I don't have to overlap holes.

[fish_finder]

 Ive dont it before with my 9'' jiffy in 28 inches of ice so i could set a minnow trap..its a little tricky but it can be done, just drill one hole like you normally would then drill the 2nd hole right next to it but about 6 inches apart, enough ice for the auger blades to start. After you get the 2nd hole drilled set the auger in the ice between the 2 holes and drill it out, hang on and keep it straight sometimes it will fetch up.

[buddah]

Big ol'e chainsaw,that's the tool of choice for commercial smelting on our lakes................. .....

[dim sum]

done it many times before with a 10" chipper.  I havent tried with a shaver type blade, not sure if it would be as good, center tends to wander into other holes.  Just cut holes beside each other.  If you make a big sick hole careful not fall in because the shavings from the new holes cover up the other holes.  Anyway you will find out.  You can also look into ice saws.

ds

[Mainedog]

Big ol'e chainsaw,that's the tool of choice for commercial smelting on our lakes................. .....

What exactly are you there, Buddah?

[Master Angler]

You can do it with the a jiffy, with the new stealth blades that they have on their new stealth augers.  I just bought the new style blade last year and put in on my old jiffy 3hp 10" and it can overlap holes easy now, it never could (or at least not without lots of effort) with the old style blade.  Now I can drill them easily touching each other and not have a problem controlling the auger.

[heshootshescores]

Here's the skinny. I'm going to fish in Northern Ontario for big lakers.....if I hook a 30-plus bagger it needs to be landed.....thinking the overlapping holes is a big advantage.......pretty sold on that in my mind but I need the auger that can do it well in run n gun fashion. I run a Nils....it's not gonna open overlapping holes in over 3 feet of ice. Have any of guys tried this? Master Angler......has the Jiffy with the Stealth done this for you? Thanks a stack.

[Superfly]

I heard that Strikemaster has a model that will do this...not sure the model #. Maybe try them.

[Hard stuff]

I need an auger that will cut 2 interconnected holes.....basically a 8-inch hole overlapping another so they connect and the result is a really big hole to fish out of. Know what I mean? Ice will be about 36-48 inches..... need some power. Have any of you done this before?

Dude that's a dangerous hole.Someone can get hurt or worse  especially a kid.That also is illegal in most states unless its in a permanent spearing shack. 10 inch hole max. in IL.

[Hollywood703]

My strikemaster has a center Drill tip, to keep it centered, and not going sideways.....would work for what you describe, just drill 2 holes as stated about 6 inches apart then set it in the center of the remailing ice....might have some light burs outward, but not enough to not allow you to get something out......I'd recommend 8" - 10" for what you are planning though.

[USMC130FE]

Strikemaster indeed has the center pin.  Also the model mentioned is the "224" series blade.  It has two sets of blades 4" and 8".  I can tell you that it cuts like crazy and you can even cut on an angle (it your so inclined) to about 45 degrees.  Open old holes and such like a dream.  I just ordered a Nils 8" power for when I don't want to lug the extra weight around and when I'm fishing with 4 or more people in thicker ice.  It will over lap holes from personal experience.

NJ law states 9" is max

Hope this helps.
Steve

[heshootshescores]

Thanks, I'll be in Northern Ontario....cutting 3 plus feet of ice. I need to be prepared to get a 30-40lb laker thru the ice....my experience with lakers up to 15 lbs says it's going to be next to impossible to get a 30 lber thru a 8 or 10 inch hole. Can't hook a fish of a lifetime and lose it trying to squeeze the thing thru a tiny hole in 3-4 feet of ice.  Guess I better see if there's a reg about hole size...might be stuck with a 10 inch hole...here in MN spearing holes get big....and guys do move leaving a big hole.....that they fill with sticks so people know a spearing hole was/is there.

Thanks.

[Master Angler]

To answer your question about the jiffy.  With the 10" blade and 3hp motor it has lots of power in 3-4 feet of ice.  Up north I put on one extension and have to drill to the handle bars with no problems.  However I have only recently switched the blades at the end of last season to the stealth style, and only tryed overlapping in about 2-3 feet of ice but am sure it will have no problems in 4 plus feet.  And a 40-45lb laker does fit through a 10 inch hole (tight squeeze though), at least when you have it on a hand line on 40lb test line, very tricky on a jigging rod with lighter line.

[heshootshescores]

Holy cow Master Angler....shall I say Mr Master Angler....that is a great fish! I hope to get one like that on a jig. How hard was it to turn that monster up and into the hole? Would you do that again or would you overlap holes? I gotta get in better shape.

[Master Angler]

Thanks.  That one wasn't too hard to turn as it was on 40lb test hand lining.  Theres no way it would have went through an 8" though.

But as I say the one I lost the day before was as big or bigger and it was almost impossible to turn it for a 10" hole.  I will be overlapping 2 or 3 10"ers now when laker fishing in lakes I know hold monsters like that.  I fought the one the day before for at least a half hour, and am not exageratting on the time, I think the buddies I was with actually went back to fishing after waiting around my hole for awhile for me to land it, LOL.  It was quite the battle, everytime it hit the ice I would get a chance or two to try to turn it but it would eventually peel off the line and head right back down 70ft to the bottom to where it started from, LOL.  I had to repeat this many times over and over till it finally straightened the jig out enough to pop free.  I am sure with a bigger hole I would have been able to turn it enough to come through. 

So, moral of the story, DEFINATELY overlap if you know there are monsters beneath you.  Its not a good feeling to loose the biggest fish of your life because the hole is too small. 

[heshootshescores]

With ya Master Angler.....I lost a fish last winter after a monumental fight when I tried to hard to get her head into the hole....learn from the past....makes a guy a better angler.....