do you ?

[superfisherfreak]

I USE A CHIZEL UP IN THERE UNTIL THE ICE IS AT LEAST TREE INCHES TICK. IT'S A HOMEMADE JOB OF SORTS BUT REALLY DOES A GREAT JOB! BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY! NO SUCH A TING AS SAFE ICE! SO BE CAREFUL OUT THERE!

[BuckKiller]

skip the power auger all to gether and buy a hand...call me old fashioned but thats all i ever use and i fish almost everyday.

I don't like the noise and gas fumes... if anything id buy electric but i don't need it

[toughguy]

Gas auger from first ice til last for me. I like the auger fumes

There are no laws regulating walking on thin ice. Well there maybe some laws if its posted "thin ice". I'm not sure about that cause I stay off when it's posted. According to the law you don't need to wear a PFD on the ice but I would put one on the kids. Better be safe than sorry.

[Caleb S]

A hand auger is all you need for early ice. It's amazing how fast they cut. I find myself laughing sometimes when I see other people on 4" of ice struggling to start up their power auger. While they trying to get it started, I've already drilled 10 holes and got a few fish in the pail! [/quote

If you can drill 10 holes by hand in the amount of time it takes to get your power auger started you need a new auger or a tune up.

[Caleb S]

If I can't bust through in a few chops with the chisel, the power auger is running. Sure, if I am only going to chop or cut 2-4 holes the hand auger or chisel is fine. I like to cut 10-20 holes depending on the lake before I start fishing. If I chop or hand cut 20 holes I am dripping with sweat. Maybe I need to loose a little weight

[PerchJerker]

6" lazer hand auger for me until there's about a foot of ice

[magicstix]

I agree, less than 8"-12" of ice 6" hand lazer all the way. It's not that much work and i drill a lot of holes. I know I can pop out 2 holes by the time you get your auger started and drill one. I would recommend a 6" over a 8" though, bought a 8 first and then went to a 6' much,much easier.

[Sandmannd]

I take my power auger out with me. I don't even have a hand auger.

[bgreen82]

i only have a hand auger right now, an 8" lazer. but a mag 2000 should be in the works by the time we have 8-10" of ice. my plan has always been to leave the power at home til then anyways as i dont have a sled, i just pull.

[Wables]

My 8" Lazer comes with me until there is 10-12", then the power auger comes out. I watched Lazer prices at Walmart all spring about 4 years ago. When they hit $25, I snagged one. Got a bunch of cheap tip-ups, too.

[skee0025]

Unless you have spare cash thats burning a hole in your pocket why buy the hand auger? You've already dropped several hundred on a gas one and they both do the same thing.

[upnorth]

I use a hand auger til I start driving on the ice. A lot less weight to be pulling out strapped on the portable. Went out yesterday and drilling through 5 inches of ice with sharp blades was a snap 4 hole and barely breathing hard.

[Offalot]

Your on the lake to fish, not to work.

Take the power auger.

[Drewski]

A lot of the time it is the guys with the power augers working with 4" of ice while I'm fishing! Those lazer hand augers cut through ice like butter!

[2thepointsetters]

I have both power and hand augers. But when I fish in the B.W.C.A. I have to use the hand auger. With sharp blades I go through 30 inches of ice or more in only couple minutes. There are days we drill 10 or more holes through 30 inches of ice with no problem. My point is if the blades are sharp hand augers are fine.

[northernsportman]

go with a ice chisel, or just take out the ol jiffy like me! its faster that way.

[aquafang]

I guess if someone wants to come with me and drill 50 holes for me with their hand auger I'll tell ya where to drill while I'm fishing every hole behind you. I move around alot. I've been fishing on 3" of ice here in SD and using my power auger. I drill alot of holes and cover alot of area to find the fish.