newbie auger question Hand or Power?

[hilblly]

Hi Folks

I am new to this forum and new to ice fishing. Went fishing yesterday for the first time and it was great!. The friend I went with has a power auger. Are hand augers worth it or should I save my money and but a power auger? I live in Montana and the ice is about 24" thick now.

Help from those who have gone before would be appreciated.

Thanks

[only ice]

Well if you like to move around when you fish. GO POWER!! Augers will start going down in price real soon.Also you can find some good deals right on the for sale forum here. Good luck.

[Flaco651]

Hand augers are good early ice, but you won't see me with one this time of year.

[sparkydm]

try cutting a hole thru 24" of ice just once with a hand auger and that will just about answer your question for you. I prefer my 3 hp jiffy, but it is pretty heavy. I hear good things about strikemaster.

[blackdog1101]

I used a Lazer hand auger for a season and a half. It works, and I never would have spent the money to buy a power auger without first knowing if I was going to enjoy ice fishing enough to invest the money. Sure it takes longer to make a hole, but the Lazer does a good job. I bought my first power auger (used) last week since I am getting out a lot, and feel that is was money well spent. If you do buy a hand auger, I give high recommendations to the Lazer auger.

[TimBuck2]

I started with a hand auger, and as mentioned it still has it's uses for early Ice. I would not recommend an 8" hand auger unless you are hooking up with some monster fish there. A 6" Lazer from StrikeMaster would zip through pretty fast. I wouldn't go bigger than 7" though. You'd be surprised at the difference in effort to drill a 6" hole opposed to an 8" hole. I know. For 24" of Ice find a used power auger if money is an issue, and upgrade later.

TB2

[Ralph Wiggum]

6" Lazer hand auger isn't bad. I drill by hand. Not the fastest or easiest, but it's cheaper and takes up less room in my garage and car.

It all depends how much you're going to ice fish and how much money you're willing to part with. If you'll only fish 8-10 times a winter, I would stay with the hand auger. If you'll go a ton, a power auger is great.

[Mainehazmt]

Get a lazer hand auger for early ice then add the Battery powered Icegator to it one really fantastic unit! I swear by mine now

[slipperybob]

Just not practical to hole hop around with a hand auger being the person doing all the drilling in more than 18" ice. Will keep you really warm though.

[magic_minnow]

Hey there! I used to live in Montana myself...western..in Missoula....my reccomendation....get a POWER auger dude! youll have more time to fish and it'll be a better ice experience. I hate using a hand auger and after your done punching a hole, your all sweaty and tired haha. But for early ice, I usually use a hand auger. I still bring the hand auger whenever I go out though,,,,JUST IN CASE the gas wants to not work. happy fishing!

[PerchJerker]

I use a 6" lazer hand auger until the ice gets to be about 12" or so, then I use a power auger. I think a hand auger limits your mobility too much when you get over 12" of ice.

[Chode2235]

I use my lazer hand auger all season long and don't find it to be to laborious to cut as many holes as I need throughout the day. It isn't that bad with a good sharp hand auger. I gets me out onto the ice for $50 vs $200. I bet I cut about 50 holes over the course of the day. The arms typically are a little sore, but never as bad as after one has a good work out.

I find it much easier to drill a smaller diameter hole (6" is perfect IMO), than a big beast of a hole. For the walleyes and panfish that I target 6" is plenty big for the most part.

And I would rather have a small lightweight auger that I can pull around in my sled than a big heavy power auger. I don't have to deal with gas, fumes, the thing not starting. I typically go out with a friend who has a power auger, and I have a hole drilled before he gets his even running. They just seem like a lot of work and maintenance. I would rather be fishing then fussing with my auger.

Could I cut more holes with a power auger, sure. But I have never felt the need to upgrade to a power auger. I should mention I am in my mid 20's, so I am fairly fit to drill the holes. I can easily drill through 18 - 24 in of ice in less than a minute.

A hand auger suits my needs just fine, they are more than adequate and even advantageous in many circumstances.

[anyfishwilldo]

If you go with the hand auger, you will not have to spend money on the gym, because you will be getting a workout cutting holes. Myself, you couldn't pry my 8" lazer mag from my hands.

[fishinJohn]

As a guy who is also in my mid 20's I have to say you definately don't want an 8 inch hand auger. After about three holes in two feet of ice you will fish where the hole is and not necessarily where the fish are. Buying used is a great idea since everyone is always upgrading and new blades can make a big difference.

[sjburnt]

.

[Sandmannd]

Start with a hand and make sure you like the sport. For me I got the power auger before a flasher, just hated drilling holes by hand. You can find good used ones for under $200.

[slipperybob]

LOL's

You won't appreciate ice fishing unless you've used a hand auger at some point.

[fishrguy]

power. i have a hand one and it sucks going through 12" of ice!! heck of a work out though!!

[Burnham]

get a power auger! i have a hand auger and it sucks(i probably should sharpen my blades)!it does limit your mobility...luckily i have a friend that has a power auger so its all good

[Craigums]

If you've got the loot there is no substitution for a power auger.

[jwhjr]

I'd say power if you can swing it $$ wise.

[Kyle Sandberg]

Unless you want sholders the size of Shaq, get a power auger. There are some good ones out there starting to go on sale that are less than 300 bucks. Hand augers are nice for early ice but once the ice gets thick its tuff.

[tisosy11]

If you can't afford a gas auger, use a battery powered drill and a hand auger. This worked for me prior to my strikmaster.

You can always just chisel out a old hole if you are just getting into ice fishing.

[L_Cappo]

ya i seen a add for a battery auger it said it can cut ice realy fast like 2 inchers per min.so if the ice is 24 inches thick it will only take about 12 min per hole now thats fast lmfaooooooooooooooooooo

[tisosy11]

Yeah - you can't use a cheapie drill...has to be an industrial construction drill or you will burn up the battery nice and fast...