Question about a 'bargain' auger

[TylerS]

Alright, slight dillema here. There has been a 6" Nils hand auger at a local sporting goods store since summer. I've looked at it every time I go there. Get light-headed and drool a bit. You know how it goes when you find a steal. You see, it's marked down to 45 bucks, regular 90. Here's my situation:

1) What should I look for as far as the condition? The blade cover is fine and the blades themselves are nice and sharp. No visible rust. Just a few knicks and scrateches. I notice the top handle is a bit sticky and the side handle is slightly loose. Other than that it looks great.

2) I mainly panfish, but set tipups now and then. Should I spend the money on this one or should I save up and buy an 8"? Is 6" undersized?

I'm using an old, blue, rusty POS hand auger right now, so anything would be an upgrade. I just figure, with all that I've heard about Nils, I might want to pounce on this before anyone else gets the same idea....

Thoughts?

[TMauer14]

Go for the 8" the 6" gets pretty small especially in colder weather when the holes start to ice.

[ChrisT]

For sure get the 8" for tip-ups. I broke a hook trying to squeeze a 40+" pike through a 6" hole. Eight is now the smallest I would go for tip-up fishing.

[hanson]

When talking about a hand auger, couple things come to mind.

- That 6" Nils is going to cut like a hot knife through butter. 8" holes are a bit more taxing on the body to cut with a hand auger.

- That price is an absolute steal!!!!!!

[PerchJerker]

My power auger is an 8", my hand auger is a 6". The 6" holes look small but it takes an awfully big fish to not fit through there. It's up to you if you want to risk it, you might be taking your chances fishing tipups in 6" holes. Good luck with whatever you decide.

[TylerS]

Yeah...that's what I was thinking too. I think I'll get it just because I do a lot more panfishing than anything else. I'll probably get out walleye fishing a time or two, but a walter with a six inch diamter is frigging ginormous.

Thanks for all the help, I'm going to snag it tomorrow...unless someone can talk me out of it

[Ralph Wiggum]

Heck yeah! I'd buy it in an instant. It might look small, but it will take a pretty good sized fish to not fit through a 6" hole.

[Eric Wettschreck]

You can get a 6" nils for 45 bucks and you are thiniking about it?!?!? Dude, go buy it or I will.

Nils hand augers will go through ice almost as fast, and sometimes faster than a gas auger.

If I were to catch a panfish I can't get through a 6" hole I'd need therapy.

[Bob Horn]

Get a 6" for augering by hand. I bought an eight and sold it and bought a 6. Big difference at the end of the day. If there is two I'll take the other one. Go buy it.

[looneyducer]

I guess it depends on which local sporting goods store it was in. Which one was it, by the way?

[Todd_J]

Quote:

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If I were to catch a panfish I can't get through a 6" hole I'd need therapy.

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Agreed. (spot on and funny!)

Quote:

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I guess it depends on which local sporting goods store it was in. Which one was it, by the way?

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TaylorS hails from Grand Forks, which is a short drive. I figure it would not take us much time at all to track down that Nils. *insert JAWS theme music here*

[TylerS]

If you guys have the guts to drive up here in this snow storm just for the Nils, you are a bigger man than I

[TylerS]

Well, it was still there...so I bought it! Can't wait to try it out. Might be awhile until the roads are good enough to drive to DL. I suppose I could head east as well. Thanks for all the advice.

[hanson]

Cabela's Bargain Cave?

[Seabass77]

Do not buy a 8" hand auger. Way too much to handle.

[Northlander]

I cut with a 8" Nils hand auger on early ice and its no problem. Sure a 6" will be faster but heck once I have 6" of ice Im using my power Nils anyway. Heck its only 22 pounds after all.

Thats a steel on that Nils hand auger. At that price and with the handle problems was it used? Either way as long as the blade is in good shape you will love it. Does it have the small center point blades? If so its probably only 1 or 2 years old even if its used. It takes a while to get used to cutting with the handle like it is but you will get the swing of it. Do not press down. If you do need to to get the center point cutting thats all it should take. Once that center point starts going let the blades do the work.

[TylerS]

Yah, it was in the bargain cave...been there forever too, that's why I wondered if there was something wrong with it. The grips are a tad loose, but they seem fine. I tested it out on the carpet when I got back (I had the cover on) and it spun really well. A lot easier with the offset handle the way it is. No, it doesn't have the center point blade. They do seem razor sharp though. I'll have to take a pic and post it up. Good grief Cabelas was busy. Santa was there, so all the kiddies were lined up to take a picture...I shoulda asked him if he could get the Nils for me as an early Christmas present since I've been such a good boy this year...

[Agronomist_at_IA]

I haven't used a nils auger but can't you get the power head and use it on the auger.

[Todd_J]

If memory serves me right, the Nils model sold via Cabala's has the "T" style top rather than a straight shaft. Is this true of the Bargain Cave Booty? Might not be a big deal to you, but it might make putting a powerhead on it next to impossible.

[TylerS]

Looks pretty straight to me. This is what I got. Nils Auger