I wanted to try some local water this year. So my bud and I hit the bay.
We are hillbilly style guys.. we have wives and kids and a working class income... so... this is our auger;

This is the hole/trench we made after only about 10 minutes;

Hard to tell by the photo, but it was about two and a half feet long by about eight inches wide. The ice (smack dab in the middle of the bay) was about 9 or 10 inches thick.
This shot was taken about 20 minutes before the rain started.

Once the rain started, we pulled up the shell. Cozy and warm, but the fishing was slow. We shoved out by 3:15pm.
Not going to over do it for the first day! We are going to head out again this week, and give it an honest shot. Minnows and everything!!