What size auger bit??

[ElectricSlide19]

Just picked up a Milwaukee Fuel 2704 model drill. Not looking for suggestions on cordless drills, but I need suggestions on what size auger bit I should look for. I like to hole hop and drill drill drill. I live in Illinois but occasionally fish Madison, WI waters and MI waters so I want to be able to drill a decent amount of holes if I run into some thick ice in Wisco or MI. I mainly fish for crappies, gills, eyes and occasionally will set up a tip up for some pike, but I am not a serious pike angler by any means. Really only looking at mora or lazer augers at this time, K drill and Nils are out of the question price wise. So what would be the ideal size for me? 6" seems too small for tip up fishing for pike but would offer the most holes per battery. 7" seems like it would accommodate the occasional pike on a tip up and would be middle of the road battery life. 8" would be best for any size fish and I would not have to worry if I run into a big fish but would obviously drain the battery the fastest. Ideally I would like to be able to get minimum 40-50 holes in a day if I needed to, if not more. Anyway I will leave it to the experts now! Let me know your opinion, thanks!

[hardwater diehard]

Lots of fish come through a 6 inch hole...but with your new purchase of the 2704 you could do 8 inch with no problem...Lazers can hang up on final break through though ..Mora not so much ...cheaper priced blades for the Mora too. Could go 7 inch but finding replacement blades locally could be a problem if your in dire need. 6" and 8" are your standards ..but if you go 7 inch pick up an extra set of blades as a back up. Make sure that the blades on a your new purchase auger are from Sweden and not China ....suggest an HT extension/adapter ..will fit StrikeMaster and is great for height .Fish307 resharpens blades.


https://www.fishusa.com/product/HT-Enterprises-Power-Ice-Auger-Adapter-Shaft

[Gills-only]

The bit size could depend on the drill used!

[ElectricSlide19]

The bit size could depend on the drill used!

Milwaukee Fuel M18 2704 Hammer drill with (2) 5 amp hour batteries

[ElectricSlide19]

Lots of fish come through a 6 inch hole...but with your new purchase of the 2704 you could do 8 inch with no problem...Lazers can hang up on final break through though ..Mora not so much ...cheaper priced blades for the Mora too. Could go 7 inch but finding replacement blades locally could be a problem if your in dire need. 6" and 8" are your standards ..but if you go 7 inch pick up an extra set of blades as a back up. Make sure that the blades on a your new purchase auger are from Sweden and not China ....suggest an HT extension/adapter ..will fit StrikeMaster and is great for height .Fish307 resharpens blades.


https://www.fishusa.com/product/HT-Enterprises-Power-Ice-Auger-Adapter-Shaft

Thanks for the input! yeah the 7 isnt a standard size which also worries me a bit, almost seems like it would be the best of both worlds between the 6 and 8 ya know?

[Doeslayer]

If you don't fish walleye a lot then It would be fine running a 6.... You could always side by side holes if you go after eyes to give you more room

[Ice Scratcher]

An 8" Mora uses the same flights as the 7, they just have longer blades.. The fact that the 8" Mora has 7" flights is one of the reasons it's the lightest 8" bit out, lighter than the K drill...

<°)))>{

[ElectricSlide19]

An 8" Mora uses the same flights as the 7, they just have longer blades.. The fact that the 8" Mora has 7" flights is one of the reasons it's the lightest 8" bit out, lighter than the K drill...

<°)))>{

Won't I still be cutting close to an 8" diameter hole though?

[Ice Scratcher]

If you run blades for 8", you'll cut 8"..

Run 7" blades, cut 7" holes..

<°)))>{

[chilly-willy]

Thanks for the input! yeah the 7 isnt a standard size which also worries me a bit, almost seems like it would be the best of both worlds between the 6 and 8 ya know?

I got a 7 inch mora plenty of pike/walleye  came threw it crappie etc.. that's what I would suggest cause you can switch it to laser blades..  after modified the laser blade adaptors a little..  the ones they sell on ebay.. then it cuts like a nils.. if you can find a off set handle..  don't even want to explain how crazy fast they cut with a electric drill with the laser adaptor..

 by the way they don't make a 8 inch blade adaptor so plan for future use is my suggestion..  if you switch the blades to laser.. if you go 8 inch mora that's fine to cauae you said your using a cordless drill and it will cut nice out of box. Mora /dtills are way to go.. just won't get as many holes or fast as a adapted mora to laser blades

 but remember you can't convert a 8 inch mora to laser blades.. no one makes adaptor.. the adaptor are found on ebay for around $35 if you don't get it this season there's always next season?? Converting to laser blades you will get more holes per batteries...  now if you just buy a 6 inch laser it cuts great out of box with hand or drill but pike and walleye forget it.. you go to a 8 or 7  inch laser I would fear the auger might jam up at bottom of hole and wreck the gear box on the drill..


now with a 7 or 8 inch mora it's designed different the cutter heads are so it don't jam up..  then you throw the blade adapotor on and it cut that much better the mora does.. but only can be done on the 7 inch mora..

Oh ya laser blades you can sharpen your self with a smith sharpener and some lansky curved blade stones.. the sharpener holds or clamps  blade and stones are held at a angle to blade by clamp.. you need a 30* plus angle to sharpen or hone auger blades that's smith clamps lansky is set at 25*.. mora and laser blades sharpen on the smith clamps just a heads up and it's easy to do..

Any how get a spare set cause no mater what you do it's good to have a back up..

[lefty2053]

Mora has had the 7"-8" Auger out for ever. Them 7" Blades are easy to find and are not an uncommon thing.
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2380057.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.X7%22+Mora+Blades.TRS0&_nkw=7%22+Mora+Blades&_sacat=0

[Mancaveburnett]

As someone else has stated you would be surprised what you can pull through a 6" hole.  For some reason you land that large laker or tiger muskie drill a hole to the side of the other.