If it were me, I'd....

[Todd_J]

So I have about $400 burning a red-hot hole in my pocket. I'm am torn on what new do-dad to add to my ice-fishing empire. What do you all think?

First- I have a 8" Nils Hand auger that has been calling out for the Tanaka powerhead. While the hand auger can drill holes swiftly, it does take effort. The powerhead would change everything. o o o o o o o o o o

Second- I have a Lowrance M68c that I bought on closeout a few years ago. While the internal GPS is nice, it cannot take chips. I have been considering getting a H20 b/w and a lakemaster chip for my area.

What is a poor boy to do???

[sjburnt]

.

[CrappieNut]

i dont know much about the h2o but have herd good things, i'd do n power head for the auger, trust me it does change everything

[Bothun]

It really depends on what kind of angler you are; want to be. For hole hopping I would definetly get sick of drilling so many holes by hand.

Or if you just fish out of the same spot all day maybe the gps would be better for you. Allowing you to get on hot spots right away.

Myself personally, I'd take the powerhead. I hate drillin holes by hand. You can always get lake maps that can give you an idea of where to go. This is what I did before i got my h20c. Now you won't find me on the ice without it. (or my strike-lite)

[Ryan_V]

for sure the gps, that will give you about $150 extra to play with!!!! there are 2 things that I refuse to fish without, my vexilar and my gps, the rest is further down the list. I'd rather forget my auger at home than my vexilar!! once I got to the lake, I could spend some beer to get holes drilled for me!!!

[Sandmannd]

I would save a little more and get both. Or just go with the H20 and not get the color one then you could get both. Color is cool, but not all that needed.

[Sandmannd]

I would save a little more and get both. Or just go with the H20 and not get the color one then you could get both. Color is cool, but not all that needed.

[CNCMike]

Could you repeat that Sandmannd? I am not sure I caught what you said

[Sandmannd]

Ha, CNC, dang thing submited twice. Oh well, we'll just say I have a stutter.

[polarsusd81]

I thought you were just trying to rack up the post count.

I think you would be wise to get the power head for the auger. GPS is nice, but how many years did we fish without it catching fish? Power augers are nice too, but if you have a GPS and drill a hole on the spot you want, but don't catch fish, you still have to drill another hole by hand. With a power head, you find a spot using the lake map, drill a hole and if you don't catch fish, pop some more til you find em. Just my opinion if it counts.

Tom

[irishwalleye]

For me - I would say it depends on how you fish. Are you like me and rarely even fish the same lake two days in a row or are you like my dad, who not only always fishes the same lake, but the same spot year after year after year?

Also, if you purchased the GPS and chip, would the lakes you fish be the DNR maps or would they be High-Def?

For me, the GPS is much more useful in the summer as I do alot more fishing out of a moving boat. In the winter, I keep drilling til the VEX says stop.

Then again, I would never have started ice fishing if I only had a hand auger.

But the H2O color is really fun to play with.

nevemind, I dont have an answer.

Thats probably why I have all of them.

Good Luck!!!

[Tom7227]

There simply isn't a map out there that will even come close to the LakeMaster Chip. The level of detail is incredible. But even more importantly with the GPS you know if you're there or 25 feet away from there. You can go to the lakemaster site and get the B&W H2O and the Minnesota chip for $170 + tax, shipping and handling. You can also step up to color or add another state for more $$$. What's the powerhead cost? If you check the HSOforum connected to FM they are out of them, so maybe the decision has been made for you.