HAND AUGER

[BigWadeS]

Hello All,

I know we are a long ways away from ice fishing but want to start planning a little bit. I am going to try ice fishing for my first time this winter and I am wondering if around the metro area a hand auger will work okay. Any advice I would greatly appreciate it.

[Please no offers to sell one in this thread]

[chris63]

Hello..........its never too early to think ice.......if you do get a hand auger do yourself a favor and get a laser hand auger by strikemaster!!!!!!!!!!handsdown the best.hope this helps.....c63

[harvey lee]

Nils Master makes a very good hand auger.The price is not as cheap as the others but it is a awesome auger.Maybe you might want to wait just a bit and you might see some augers being sold in the Fore Sale forum in a month or two.You might be able to purchase a used one from a FM member at a good price.Just a thought .

[so haaad]

Hand augers will work just fine as long as your blade is sharp, the ice isn't too thick and you know exactly where you are going to fish. In the metro, hand augers are fine through January. After that the ice starts getting pretty thick.

[GottaGo]

One other thing to remember is size of the hole. I use a 6" hand auger and it works great and is plenty big enough for walleyes and panfish. When I use anything bigger, it seems to take twice as long and require twice the work.

[chris63]

Wheres the ice??........a sixx inch auger is enouph for pans/wallys.Much easier on the arms too....come on ice......do i need an extention yet?????????????c63

[IndyEFI500]

We are never too far away from ice in my book. Ditto on the Laser. I don't have one because I bought a gas unit (thank you honey). A friend of mine has one though and he can almost beat his dad's gas unit. Also doesn't hurt to have pipes the size of most people's thighs. If that is all you can budget for now, go for it. If the ice gets too thick and you have a tough go of it, post that you are looking for a fishing buddy. There are a lot of FMr's out there with the equipment and no one else to go out with.

[Northlander]

Best hand auger I have ever used is the Nilsmaster by far. My Lazer is second only to it. Either one will do ya. The Nils is faster and longer but also more $. The Lazer is also nice and cheaper.

[Gissert]

If I was going to get a hand auger, it would be the Nils, no question.

[smg04]

i picked up a strikemaster mora 6" hand auger ($40) at walmart,fleetfarm, kind of a cheapie i guess but worked great for me all last winter, the most ice i seen last winter was 14" but had no prob cuting through it

[BigWadeS]

Thanks for the great feedback guys, I truly appreciate it. I am not too worried about having to use a hand auger, make an irish coffee taste that much better once the hole is drilled.

[Ralph Wiggum]

I bought a 6" Lazer last winter and it works extremely well. Got me through all winter.

[Big D 1]

Pretty much only use the power auger.

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[OldBear]

Just a few years back I had an 8" but last winter went with a 5". Was much much easier drilling holes but I wish now I'd spent the extra and got a lazer. Maybe next time I'll skip the lazer and get a gas one.

[Captain B.R.K]

A hand auger is a great tool to have during early and late ice conditions. It is nice to have a lighter auger at these times.

If you find yourself enjoying ice-fishing and you are getting out more than you thought, then think about a power auger. You'll definately be happy you spent the $$$. You will spend more time being productive and your arms/back will be happier with you too

[ocf]

how much does a hand auger cost, im gonna get out this year and try and get some fish

[smg04]

any where from 40$ all the way to 200$ depending on size brand quality

[ocf]

ok i dont have the budget for a good one and wont use it that much so maybe 50 -75$ is what im lookin at thanks for the info

[Ralph Wiggum]

You can get a Lazer in the $50-$70 price range.

SMG, what type of hand auger costs $200?

[smg04]

haha yeah i guess $200 might be a little high, i was just throwing out an aprox range, more of a guess i suppose, maybe if u found a guy that made some really nice custom augers maybe the price would get up there?