Best Auger for Spear Fishing hole.

[doc]

I am looking at getting a new Ice Auger for making a spear fishing hole. Concerns are how well it will overlap without skipping out.

Any opinions on what type works best. I was thinking about a Lazer Mag with the double blade. I see they make 3 and 4 blade models as well. Would they work better?

[Moose-Hunter]

I've never cut a spearing hole so I may just be quacking like a duck here, but wouldn't an ice saw work better than an auger? I've seen an ice saw listed here at F.M. that looks like it could really do a great job. This thing looks like it would go through ice like a hot knife through butter... Check it out, it may be the hot ticket for you.

As far as an auger... I'm thinking a multiple blade (3 or 4) model would work best. Something with a guide tip like the Strikemaster Ultra. I ran an Ultra (9" drill) last season and never had any drill wander to speak of. But I never tried to overlap the holes either so your results may vary from mine....

Kind of shootin' in the dark here, but I hope it helped...

[Iceseeker]

I second the ice saw idea, actually quicker and less water flying around to get wet.

[Mike89]

I have a Jiffy Legend and a saw. They both work very well. The saw gets retired after the ice gets to thick, I'm old and lazy!! The power auger then takes over, I just place the blade next to first hole and keep working to the next hole. I usually do 4 to 5 holes across with one down each side and then a row across again which would be 5 more holes, you then have one large chunk of ice in the middle and plenty of small chips. For that I took a scoop shovle and drilled some holes in it and scoop ice out. I also took a basket from an old deep frier and added a handle to it. Seems to work good too!! You might want to chip away the outside edges of the hole with your chissel, sorry about my spelling here. Good luck, Mike.

[woodman]

I used to use a chain saw! It worked great and the hole was nice and square.

[psegriz]

I've drilled many spearholes with an auger. All I have is an old chipper style and it has worked for me. If you overlap too much it may wander into the next hole. Or if your holes aren't too straight I've had them wander into the next hole also. If your going to get a new auger anyhow the double bladed one should work just fine. A spearing buddy has one and makes spearing holes just fine, but just faster than my chipper. Don't know of anyone who has the 3 and 4 bladed bad boys so I can't comment on them.

With the lack of snow and high winds we've had I'd recommend using an auger to cut a spearhole. You can use the slush to bank your house. That will seal it off from drafts, sunlight reflections coming in and keep your house froze down enough to keep it from blowing away. I have a chainsaw set up just for cutting ice but until we get some snow for banking I have to make my own. Hope this helps.

[psegriz]

Mike89 and woodman

You guys must type faster than me. Cuz when I started my post I didn't see you guys.

Oh and mike when we get together for spearing you'll see my slush scoop and wonder why ya ever ruined a good shovel by drilling holes in it. OK it's an old commercial bait dealers net I have left over from my baitin days.

[fisheye]

Get both an auger and an ice saw. Early ice - drill 4 holes, one in each corner - cut between them with the saw. Thicker ice - drill multiple holes along the sides and then cut between them with the saw. Works great and is faster than drilling overlapping holes.

[mnmuzzleloader]

I agree we use a 4"hand lazer to put a hole in each corner and then cut it with a saw, I have used a lazer to swiss cheese it and then chishled it before I had the saw but it has been the saw ever since.

[Mike89]

Hey Griz, the shovel was just a plastic one so i don't feel to bad. Got the wife home now so will be fishing very soon I hope!! Happy Holidays to ya!! Mike