What would be your first purchase?

[Duffman]

Flasher, portable, then a power auger. That was my three year plan 14 yrs ago.

Seeing what was going on below the ice was most important to me.

Being comfortable was second.

Taking full advantage of the flasher and portable by exploring with the power auger finished the big purchases off.

[LPCrowRiverFisherman]

Power Auger-Not Necessary I've drilled 125 or so hand holes in the past 3 weekends since the power auger broke down. Also if you are good with the hand auger technique you can get through 20 inches of ice in 20 seconds with sharp blades Yes you will get tired but you can check the hole then drill another. But I still have enough energy at 19 yrs of age.

Flasher-Very Necessary, If the fish are suspended or finicky it is the most important thing to have.

[Down Deep]

When I first started ice fishing power augers and flashers were about as common as sunny 75 degree days in January. All the equipment that I and most people had fit in a 5 gallon bucket. After drilling about 1000 holes by hand when Strikemaster came out with a light 8 inch power auger I bought it at first sight. Everybody is right about getting a hole drilled because I drilled lots of holes for people over the next several seasons until people geared up. Vexilar flashers were still a few seasons into the future, but because I could drill lots of holes I was able to find more fish. If both my Marcum and auger disappeared at the same time I'd buy the auger first. I know I can drill enough holes to locate and catch fish. The flasher just makes it a whole lot easier.

[fishinaddict]

Vex first hands down. Might take longer to get a pattern on fish with a hand auger, but once you do its game over with the vex

[fishergurl]

I bought used Jiffy gas Auger first, and within a month, purchased a used Vex. I would do the same if I had to do it over again! Hand drilling takes up to much time away from fishing, especially if you have to move a lot to catch the fish! Then again I'm a female, and hand drilling would kick my butt!

[Acemac]

what about those attachments made for a power drill?

[TruthWalleyes]

Here's how I look at it...

Having a sonar and hand auger is like fishing from shore (open water)with a depth finder...Sure you can see whats in the holes you just drilled, but your not able to check in many places. You can only drill so many holes until you're so tired that you sit there and fish unproductive waters.

Having no sonar and a Gas Auger is like being in a boat without a depth finder...Thats just gotta be frusterating, but at least you can cover some ground if the fish aren't biting.

A guy's just GOTTA have both!

I went with a marcum first, and didn't upgrade to a gas auger until i blew out my shoulder...Once i had both - Then i put fish on the ice!!

[mainbutter]

Also if you are good with the hand auger technique you can get through 20 inches of ice in 20 seconds with sharp blades Yes you will get tired but you can check the hole then drill another.

My biggest issue with hand augers isn't the getting tired.. it's the getting sweaty after just half a dozen holes. Sweaty + cold = no fun.

[picksbigwagon]

A buddy and I started out about 15 years ago with 5 gallon buckets, his ford escort, and a hand auger. 10 years ago we bought a cabela's put it together suitcase style house because we were tired of being in the elements. (the ice house is still going strong) 8 years ago we got an auger and I started talking to him about flashers and how they are supposed to be the cats meow, etc. He pooed pooed that idea. I bought a marcum lx-1, the next year he bought a camera.

I currently own three houses, 3 man flip over, one man flip over and a still unused pop up house. If I was to do it all over again, I would have started with the power auger first and then beg borrowed and creatively acquired the $$$ for a flasher.

This weekend, I am looking forward to fishing with my auger, flasher and my one man house unopened hole hopping, back in the elements.

I have been seriously looking at those strikemaster glide sled things. You know so I can sit back in the elements

[Carpenter]

I bought an auger before my vex. Now I couldn't fish w/o my vex, but you have to get thru the ice to fish

[MN BassFisher]

I've been a fisherman since a child but not much of an ice-fisherman. Anytime I went as a kid we didn't catch anything and I just didn't have the clothing to stay out on the ice for long without becoming an ice cube. Last year I went with some buddies about 5-6 times and loved it. This year I went all out, I hit this crossroads. I wound up getting them all before the ice got too thick. My first of big 3 was the flasher, found an awesome deal on a HBird Ice 45 online. Very happy with that purchase. Then shortly after I found an awesome new hub for not much money, so I jumped on that. I was okay with hand augering for early ice so I bought a heater, hose, and 20lb tank. Then finally I buckled and bought a power auger, found a good deal ($250) on an Eskimo Mako 43cc. I'm happy with my gear/setup and it's safe to say I got bit by the ice fishing bug...HARD!

[Eelpout08]

first thing i got was a wheelhouse! then two cheapie combo fishin sticks. then i just borrowed all the other nessesaries from the other two partners in the wheelhouse. i finally got me a 'bird 45 a month or so ago and cant imagine why i would have fished without it. if i was to start from scratch without guys to mooch off of i would get a hand auger and a flasher, then a shelter, followed by the gas auger.

[Fever]

L.P. crow...

Hey there neighbor's friend. I will bring you out to my perm which is not far from L.P. and have ya drill my holes for me with your hand auger. You'd get it done faster than my strikemaster lazer mag and I wouldn't have to deal with the exhaust fumes in the 6x6 house.

I do think both are very important as I'm 35 and really not to much in love with drillin a bunch of holes by hand if I don't have to. I agree though that the Vex is crucial. Hard to think back to the time that I'd set my line up 12-18 inches off bottom, wait a bit, bring it up 6 inches, wait a bit, repeat... then drill another hole by hand. Wow, how things have changed.

Fever

[magicstix]

I did the same as Duffman about 15yrs. ago when I decicded to get serious about icefishing. I asked myself what is going to improve my fishing: flasher. I've already sat out in the elements for many years so if your catching fish it doesn't matter how cold it is, I'm gonna stay.

I already had a 6' lazer hand auger and was used to drilling holes. You can pull a lot of fish through a 6" hole, a 8" isn't as neccessary as alot of people think. If I was getting a little bit warm drilling, I'd shed my coat and when I'd start to cool off again then put it back on.

I bought a shelter the next year and 8 yrs later i finally bought a power auger.

Flasher first!!