Which Ice Auger do I buy?

[perch_destroyer]

I am buying my first ever power auger this week. I'm looking at either a Strike Master or Eskimo. I've got friends who have had bad luck with Jiffy. I would like to get a an 8 inch. Just wondering if anybody had any input on either the Strike Master or Eskimo brands. I'm getting tired of hand cranking holes. Thanks in advance...

[Sybar]

I think there is no real better buy...they all are good products now ah-days...just need to take care of them and make sure you use Amsoil...Im running it for the first time this year and my Jiffy has never run better...starts on the first pull...and runs real clean and smooth!!

IMO

[RonWBasser]

You'll get a hundred different opinions on this. All are pretty good. Take care of it and it will take care of you. Personally I have a 14 year old eskimo, just put new blades on it. Still works great. If I had to get a new one, probably a strikemaster lazer mag express 8"

Just my two cents. Anything will beat the hand cranking.

[fishinmajishin]

SM Strike-Lite. Lighter,smoother running and cutting,fast as anything,quieter,cleaner,straight gas, and best customer service if needed. Oh and did I mention LIGHTER?! 5 lbs is HUGE difference. The guys who say they don't like the plastic handles and auger probably are abusing/mishandling it. The $525 hurt more at the cash register, but I forgot all about that after using it on the ice the first time. SWEET!

[Ice master 5]

Me and my friends and family have owned 5 jiffy augers of all models and have had to bring them in to get "tuned up" right out of the box. Needless to say most of us run Strike Master 2000 10.25 inch models and love them!

[upnorth]

I have a eskimo z51 4 years old and so far a great auger for under $300. There are probably faster augers out there but it blows chipper augers away. Starts in 1 to 3 pulls even cold. I got nothing to complain about.

[Rick G]

Most companys make one or two good models I love my jiffy 2hp stx. Got a strike 3000 for a backup. Both are very reliable. The jiffy has a fixed needle carb and runs great and the strike needed a new clutch in its first season but since it has also been good.

[I_icefish_in_my_sleep]

We have an Eskimo and the recoil on it is plastic, if you get this brand see if they have on that doesn't have a plastic recoil. Our busted twice now, good thing hubby ordered two this last time. They are around 25bucks a piece, so far since my husband has had his Eskimo we've gone through about 5 recoils and he's being careful, warms it up in a warm house first and everything, when it is running it does cut really well. Weigh your options. Diana

[HUMMER 55]

i have an eskimo z51 new last year. big pile of junk. all plastic thats not good in cold. first time out the recoil housing broke out, there i was, screwed no hole drilled.....pist..... just took it out this fall from storage and the fuel tank had leaked over summer, found the tank had been leaking around one of the molded mounting nuts. thus the bolt for that one was way over tighted from factory. there i sat trying to get loaded to go on another trip agian no auger.... however they did send me the parts fast and i was able to use it but.....

never again when it dies, it dies !! no more eskimo's for me!!!!

[slurpie]

strikemaster. strikemaster, strikemaster. You'll drill holes faster and more than your friends. And in the rare case you do have a problem the guys from strikemaster will take care of you no questions asked.

[paceman]

another vote for strikemaster. I bought mine last year and love it...

[dan z]

well since jiffy is out I would have to say go with SM, the off brand styles ie eskimo, husky.... dont know of ne others but they are not built the same they cut corners to keep the price down, as mentioned above the eskimo's have plastic teeth on the recoil and the break really easy. I had a husky years ago that had the same problem. I now have a SM 224 8" and would not trade it for ne thing LOVE IT

[DTro]

strikemaster. strikemaster, strikemaster. You'll drill holes faster and more than your friends.

Except your friends that have a Nils.

When it comes to speed, I’ve had one auger keep up hole for hole with my Nils, and that was a Jiffy 2hp STX (this past weekend) and it’s very possible that my blade is starting to dull a bit after two years of use.

I’m amazed at how many guys are out there struggling and struggling to first get their augers started, and then when it does finally start, it takes literally 3 minutes of leaning on the auger and sidestepping around the hole before the auger drops through. I guess I must fish next to the guys that never maintain their equipment, because I see it every time I’m out.

There have been times when fishing is slow and I see guys having issues, that I will go grab my auger, walk over and zip 3 holes for them while they are still working on that first hole.

If you want a well built auger that cuts like no other and will give you years of dependable service. Get a Nils Master.

[Bigslugger]

You either get a Jiffy with good luck..or no luck

That is how it seems from everyones experiences with them

Personally I have the good luck when it comes to Jiffy

Love my Model 30 and wouldn't trade it fro anything

[harvey lee]

I agree Dtro, I have had nothing but the best of luck with my Nils. I was out one day and used anothers auger that I was fishing with and wondered how he could always go through the work he did to cut a few holes. I totally forgot that one had to place down pressure on a auger after having used my Nils for a few years now. Just hold on and let it cut.

I pulled out my Nils and let him try it out and yes, he was sold.

If possible, if you are on the lake and see another fellow fisherman with a Nils, ask him if you could cut a few holes with it and I do believe that you would be suprised just how easy and effortlessly this auger cuts.

[Caleb S]

Buy whatever you can afford. Eskimo seems to be taking a beating on the site lately but mine is approx 6 yrs old and I've never had an issue. The new ones do look like they have more plastic on them though.

[muskyhunter57]

Whatever you get don't abuse it and it will serve you well. I am personally leaning toward Nils.

[muc33]

I own two SM augers right now, I am in the process right now of saving my coin to do ONE thing. Buy a Nils. My buddy was in the market and had the cash this past year and he bought one on my suggestion and it did two things. Made him REALLY happy while on ice, and then made me REALLY jealous.

I like my SM and haven't had any issues, but as much as I fish and as many holes as we drill runnin and gunnin pannies I assure you my next ice fishing purchase is a NILS.

[Sandmannd]

If you have the money get a NILs, awesome augers. I don't have one though. I have a SM Lazer and it's a great one as well. I got mine as a demo from D-rock in New Brighton. You save some money that way. Not sure if they have any left, but worth a check.

[jwhjr]

A chipper blade is the only type that I've had to put any pressure on to cut. I just set my Lazer on the ice and hit the throttle. It pulls right through.

[Vex Guy]

Going on 22 years with my Jiffy! It has cut thousands of holes and believe it or not... never replaced the spark plug and only went thru 2 sets of blades!

Tips that have worked for me....

* Never drilled on dirty ice ( and there is spots on the lake that gets dirt and sand blown on without snow)

* Always used sea foam in every tank

* Always used premium gas

* Always ran gas out of carb before storing

* Always store in upright position and covered

You take care of it and you should never need to buy another one.

[slurpie]

yeah care is probally the defining fACTOR. If you throw any of them around they wont cut and they wont last. Naver used a nils or know of anyone with one but might have to look at one now.

[Shack]

I will add another vote for the Nils!

You can read up on them here: Why should I own a Nils Master!

Now, I have dropped a ton of money this season and the Nils has been pushed off till next season. I have a late nineties Strike Master Mag 2000. It runs great, never fails, but is not a Nils You see a Nils in action (you have to or else do not even comment ) and you will be putting your Strike Master back in the truck, asking to use or have who ever drill with the Nils .

For this season, like I said I am sticking with the Strike Master. So, I actually went threw and serviced the machine for this first time in 10+ years last weekend . Minus the servicing, I also upgraded the handle to the new style one (saves major on weight and now I can rest my auger on the handle and not have it fall over like the old steel ones) and also went from a slightly bent single chipper auger, to a dual laser auger. I used it last weekend and it is now a total different machine. Minus the culture shock going from the chipper to the laser auger, it cuts like nothing else I have owned. You almost have to lift up, once you do, it pulls straight down. It did not cost much to upgrade the machine and like SM service department said, the motor I have is an over all better motor than they make today (EPA stands and such).

I am getting a Nils next season hands down, but my Strike Master upgrades I have done have me looking forward to going fishing and auguring a ton of holes, verses hesitating cause that single chipper auger was such a pain (even with new blades ).

Good luck on what you get!

[PTocko]

Can't comment on comparing to others but I have a SM Mag 2000 8.25 which I got new from my Brother-in-law. It works fine for me - I wanted the chipper blade as I don't drill a ton of holes and they are a little easier to maintain. It starts very easily - 2 to 3 pulls, I do let it idle for a couple of minutes before drilling, I just use the time to unpack some other things. Again I don't know how long a hole "should" take to drill or how much pressure but it seems to me that the auger does most of the work and I can drill the holes I need in a few minutes. It's that old story - buy what you need or buy what you want. I'm sure I would appreciate a Nils but for the price and for how I use an auger the SM 2000 works great. Good luck! Paul

[Shack]

Good post Paul !

You are right, the chipper bit/auger is very good for low maintenance, opening old holes in a perm and just busting a couple holes and hunkering down for some good old ice fishing.

But I kid you not, that dual laser blade set up and a good running 2.0 HP would cut 5 holes in the time it took to cut about 1.5 holes with my chipper auger with a new blade (when the auger was straight, it got bent a couple weeks back and that is why I just changed it. After it got bent, it took 2-4 minutes per hole in 12").

No more having to tilt the auger a little to get it pulling down and no more binding when you are just about to bust threw the bottom of the ice. SM service told me with this new auger, be careful when you get to the bottom, cause it ain't going to bog/bind like the old chipper and you could go head over heals when it cut threw Even with this advice, my first couple holes I found my self getting pulled down to the hole .

The Nils will beet SM, even on a bad day and is lighter (IMO) and will be my next auger for sure next year. Get yours at the Outdoor Pro Store before they are sold out again this year Click here!!