I'm just starting to get into ice fishing after selling my boat due to lack of use and I'm looking for some basic advice on augers. I've got plenty of ice rods/reels and just like everybody else the tackle seems to grow mysteriously everytime I walk into the store! Convinced my wife on the advantages of some electronics and got a Vex for Christmas. Now I have to figure out how to get through the ice! I looked the equipment threads over pretty well yesterday regarding augers and I think I have a good idea on a brand preference or preferences but not totally settled on that either.
What I'm really after is what horsepower auger would be sufficient now and for the future? Any advantages to being proactive and buying with "ice house" handles even though a permanent house seems unlikely in the near future (is an auger with these type of handles harder or easier to handle?)? What size drill (8"-9"-10")? It appears the electrics have really improved but are they worth the cost versus the noise, etc?
I would expect my fishing to initially focus on some panfishing with the kids and probably some tipups for northerns. I do intend to fish for walleyes on LOW or Mille Lacs and any Metro lakes in the future but will be looking for some intensive training from some experienced ice fishermen on locations/tactics etc..
Cost is somewhat of an issue as I'd like to stay uder $400, but I just found out my annual trip to LOW fell through due to lower than anticipated participation so I may have some leverage on the homefront regarding cost!
Wasn't terrible at a state park beach. Antelope island maybe. I wouldn't recommend it as a beach destination tho. Figured I was there, I'm getting in it.
The water looked and smelled disgusting with hundreds of thousands of birds sh*tting in there. About as gross as the Salton Sea. When I duck hunted there I didn't even want to touch the water.
It's kinda gross with the algae in the summer but I got in it anyway. Wanted to see the increased bouyancy at work. You can kinda tuck yourself into a ball and you'll just float with your head above water. When dry off you look diamond encrusted with the salt.
We went to the flats too. I dipped a tire on the rental car onto it just to say I’ve been there,but it was still pretty soft from winter melt. After seeing some moron in a BMW suv get dragged out of the muck I had no intention of repeating his stupidity.
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Tripleplay
I'm just starting to get into ice fishing after selling my boat due to lack of use and I'm looking for some basic advice on augers. I've got plenty of ice rods/reels and just like everybody else the tackle seems to grow mysteriously everytime I walk into the store! Convinced my wife on the advantages of some electronics and got a Vex for Christmas. Now I have to figure out how to get through the ice! I looked the equipment threads over pretty well yesterday regarding augers and I think I have a good idea on a brand preference or preferences but not totally settled on that either.
What I'm really after is what horsepower auger would be sufficient now and for the future? Any advantages to being proactive and buying with "ice house" handles even though a permanent house seems unlikely in the near future (is an auger with these type of handles harder or easier to handle?)? What size drill (8"-9"-10")? It appears the electrics have really improved but are they worth the cost versus the noise, etc?
I would expect my fishing to initially focus on some panfishing with the kids and probably some tipups for northerns. I do intend to fish for walleyes on LOW or Mille Lacs and any Metro lakes in the future but will be looking for some intensive training from some experienced ice fishermen on locations/tactics etc..
Cost is somewhat of an issue as I'd like to stay uder $400, but I just found out my annual trip to LOW fell through due to lower than anticipated participation so I may have some leverage on the homefront regarding cost!
Thanks for the help!
Tripleplay
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