Cutting a hole

[quickfishnoob]

I know you jokers have offered to meet up and help cut a hole, but I gotta grow up someday and get my own stuff. Looking for your thoughts on how to go about cutting a hole on the cheap. Now I don't want to do it the complete old fashioned way and chop the entire whole, but I was thinking if I got a saw and used a hand auger to cut 4 holes I would be set. At least for this winter. I could probably get a saw for 100 bucks??? Then next next winter I can upgrade to a power auger. What do you think?

[MJ1657]

I think the saws run a little more than $100.00. You have the right idea on cutting your hole though.

Auger, saw and a sharp chisel and you're in business.

A set of tongs will make your life easier but you can do it without them. Check out antique shops for tongs.

[Laska]

not to take away from a saw but an auger this time of year would be good to have, save some energy with an auger then chip in between the hole and it works great I did chipper and hand auger my first whole year and dont know how I did it looking back...

On the budget stand point a saw for around 125 and hand auger would be the best bet your on the right track like mj said tho

[MJ1657]

When I started out I didn't have a saw. I did have a power auger though. I just overlapped my holes and chiseled off the points. It works fine I just happen to like the nice square cut hole.

[BehindtheHead]

what ever you do dont fall for the cheeper ice saws. i did. i got a nils for like 80 bucks and thought "what could be the difference". i used it once and got rid of it.

best hole cutting tool i ever got was a stand up tongs. it will save your back. trust me.

a good chisle is a must. not only for cutting your hole but for re-opening your hole the next day. or pushing your blocks back down the hole when they freeze down.

if you ask me you have to have atleast a:

hand augar $80

ice saw $120

chisle $50-100

tongs ?

it might seem expensve but its worth it.

o ya spear $200

more decoys than there are days of the year $thousands

extra spear so that when you spear a nice fish in the tail you can spear it again $100

spare fish house $200

and it goes on and on and on.

[Laska]

what ever you do dont fall for the cheeper ice saws. i did. i got a nils for like 80 bucks and thought "what could be the difference". i used it once and got rid of it.

best hole cutting tool i ever got was a stand up tongs. it will save your back. trust me.

a good chisle is a must. not only for cutting your hole but for re-opening your hole the next day. or pushing your blocks back down the hole when they freeze down.

if you ask me you have to have atleast a:

hand augar $80

ice saw $120

chisle $50-100

tongs ?

it might seem expensve but its worth it.

o ya spear $200

more decoys than there are days of the year $thousands

extra spear so that when you spear a nice fish in the tail you can spear it again $100

spare fish house $200

and it goes on and on and on.

could not agree more...

[Gordie]

Fishtoys saw is a got to have

sharp chisel

this time of year a power auger is nice but if all you have is a hand auger than that will work

If you are looking for a hand auger I have one that I will give you but you will need to put new blades on it just let me know and I may possibly be able to help out when it comes time for a power auger..

[shamalex72]

When I started out I didn't have a saw. I did have a power auger though. I just overlapped my holes and chiseled off the points. It works fine I just happen to like the nice square cut hole.

Thats what I did for quite a few years, just overlapped the holes with a power auger.

[BOUNCED]

When I started out I didn't have a saw. I did have a power auger though. I just overlapped my holes and chiseled off the points. It works fine I just happen to like the nice square cut hole.

Me too

I'd skip the saw and hand auger and try and get a power auger. You won't catch me trying to drill holes this time of year with a hand auger. Makes my arms burn just thinking about it. You can find used augers around for $150

[MJ1657]

extra spear so that when you spear a nice fish in the tail you can spear it again

I heard sometimes you might even need a third spear for this!

[APCfishing]

Do you guys push your cube under or pull it out? I dont have a set of ice tongs and had to push it under, I wonder if this spooks the fish from coming in??

[MJ1657]

I pull mine out. You will get alot of opinions on this. Mine is that i've had enough fish come in right under the ice that I do not want anything in the way that could block them.

Tongs are fairly inexpensive to buy. I have a couple set of stand up tongs that can get expensive but the smaller sets work fine.

[mrklean]

you can get a set of tons super cheap, i got mine for $15 look online they are everywhere out there

[FLnick87]

just got into it this year.

use power auger for holes

had a chisel

Spear $90

one decoy $20

sucker harness $3

One sucker a week $2

I have been quite successful and have had a great time! I dont see myself buying any new equipment anytime soon!

[Sunnie]

The less you have to bend over to pull the chunks out the better. This would lead me to recomend a longer tongs and the type that pulls tight when you only need to pull with 1 hand. And forgive us we didn't mention ice cleats for your feet so you don't slip and gives you the leverage you need to get the chunk out. I just shove them under this time of year less chance of hurting yourself.

[glenn57]

i ve done it both ways with thick ice and i vote for power auger and fishtoys ice saw. still way better than chisel.

[tca12]

Power auger, ice saw, tongs. Right now I can't imagine a hand auger. Four holes is OK early season, six mid-season so I get two blocks, and now I'm drilling 12 holes (three rows of four) and sawing. Drilling takes less effort than sawing but there are more chips to skim out.

[BehindtheHead]

o ya and a good net to clean the hole out. i have a shovel that i blasted a bunch of holes in with the torch. it works well for the bigger chunks.

[MJ1657]

I use a frying pan drilled full of holes which works good but the net is faster.

[Laska]

I use a frying pan drilled full of holes which works good but the net is faster.

and maybe until sat my net right?

[MJ1657]

I think I might have lost it!!!

[Laska]

hahaha, Ill have to reposess something hahahaha!! ..... j/k

[woodspliter]

I'd go with the power auger first, you can us it after spearing season for pannies.

[Sunnie]

Landing net works to remove ice in the hole. It may need to be reinforced with fabric (Scuba netting) if the original net gets abused. Available at fabric stores.

[Gordie]

I use a big minnow net like the ones in the bait store I used use an old stainless steel collander aka noodle strainer