New hand auger

[mrfish1991]

Alright, im fed up with my mora auger...all it does is spin like a top on the ice and doesnt bite at all. Im sure something is bent where the sun dont shine or the blades are dull or what have you...but im done with that paperweight.

I used a SM lazer auger for the first time yesterday and holy cow what a difference. I was wondering if anybody else has one and what their thoughts on it were.

I would love a nils, but they are out of my price range so please dont bring them up

[Bigslugger]

My grandpa has a 6" lazer auger and loves it

There's not much out there for good hand augers other than the lazer. (Unless Nils of course)

[prov1900]

80 bucks for the 7" SM, 90 bucks for the Nils 6". Spend the 10. I have used both. The first hand auger I ever used...since the "spoon" was the SM lazer. I was super impressed. Great auger. Then I heard all the hype about the Nils and blew it off for a couple of years. Then I bought one. End of story. Spend the 10.

[pdk511]

theres some good eskimo hand augers, i used one until I got my sm 224

[Northlander]

The Strikemaster hand auger is a great hand auger. I have one that I used for years and it was great.

I now have a NIls and the Nils is way easier to cut with and faster. I also would spend the extra $ and get a NIls. Sorry you didnt want them brought up but I guarentee you would love one if ya got it.

[crappiekid24]

Normark Fin Bore or the Nils. Cant co wrong with either.

[hamms-scooter]

is this nils hand auger that great??? with two feet of ice now would you leave the power auger at home? i drill many holes out there searching and just hole hopping with the school of fish would you still say the nils hand auger would be best buy?Im all about having a light weight people powered auger looking for honest advice about this how fast is it really? sounds like the one

[prov1900]

Truely the best. I wouldn't have posted on the last (seemingly) 10 similar posts if I didn't believe it. 24"? If you have a hand auger, then go with it, but my SM Lazer was running a little slow yesterday and wish I had brought my Nils hand auger. I drilled upwards of 75 holes yesterday (school event), but I really think I could have competed with my own gas auger (against myself) with my Nils. Like I said in an earlier post topic, the best thing about gas vs the Nils is the fact that the gas augers will pull 99% of the slush out with the end of the auger. You have to do some scooping with the hand auger, regardless of which brand.

I know none of you guys live where I do, but I wish you did, I would lend out my auger to you guys in a second. Hand augers are "what they are" but if you are going to buy one, buy a Nils. I can't/won't afford the Nils gas auger, but then again I will try to find a way. We are at 20" of ice in Nebraska now. That is two seasons in a row. Global warming anyone?

[mrfish1991]

Well...captain planet (al gore) sure belives in it

But thats a topic for a different forum

[erickol]

I used an 8" lazer last night for the first time. Holy smokes was that thing sweet. Melted through the ice, and smelled better than my leaky Jiffy!

From the praises sung about the Nils, I sure would like to try one out.... if someone else coughed up the dough.

[mrfish1991]

i agree with you eric...i would love to try a nils before i buy a new hand auger

so if anyone in the burnsville/lakeville/apple valley/prior lake area has one and is willing to let me use it i would love to try it.

as i said before i was very very very impressed with the lazer...so if the nils can top that i might scrounge around for the extra 10 and drop it in the hso store

[prov1900]

Science/physics at work. With the Lazer, you are really using only one hand. With the Nils, you are using two = less fatigue and 1/2 the time. No bite at the end with the Nils. The no bite thing is a huge deal IMO.

[Dave S]

I had an 8" Lazer when they first came out. Paid $47 after tax back then and wish I never sold it. This was the auger to have back then. Even over power augers.

Now to the Nils. I'm getting the itch to "Pull the Plug" on a new Nils power auger. The best part is, Reel Fishing in Madison Lake is giving away a 4 1/2" hand auger with the purchase of a new 8" power auger. That would work perfectly for drilling an extra hole for your transducer. Bigger fish won't come up the hole and wrap up in your cable and it will still work for jumbo perch.

[mrfish1991]

im sure the two hand thing takes some getting used to

[croixflats]

Are they giving away 4 1/2 auger with handle because you get the handle attachment when you by the 8" Power auger. Be great to have the 4 1/2 " but thats more one has to haul out to the hole. At least I did one does through Outdoor Pro Store where I got mine.

[Dave S]

Are they giving away 4 1/2 auger with handle because you get the handle attachment when you by the 8" Power auger. Be great to have the 4 1/2 " but thats more one has to haul out to the hole.

I believe so. The way I understand it, you would get the handle with the power auger as well as the handle for the smaller hand auger. It wouldn't weigh that much that a 4' length of rope would fix (harness).

[Drewski]

The lazer hand augers cut through ice like a knife cuts through butter. Best hand auger out there!

[croixflats]

Yea, that bit might even fit in my Northland ice house, when folded up, so it would be with me always. See what you did now I have to get one. The house already ways a lot so whats an extra 10#

[Dave S]

just make sure you leave one for me I only live 18 miles away, but won't get the chance to get back down there until next week.

[angleworm]

My 8" SM Lazer works great for what I bought it for, a lightweight early season auger. If the ice is <12-15" or I'm going on foot(no snowmobile)and need to go light, I leave the powered unit at home.

The Lazer does get hung up some at the end which can be a pain. I have never used a Nils, so if it doesn't get hung up at the end, and drills as easily or easier than the Lazer, then maybe it's worth a couple more bucks.

For me a 6" hole is too small, I like 8" better. And looking at prices...what they want for an 8" Nils is more than just a couple bucks over an 8" Lazer.

Now I'm starting to wonder if a guy could somehow fabricate a 2-handed handle similar to the Nils style and replace the one from my Lazer........

[Loos15]

As of right now...my Lazer hand cuts faster than my Lzer xl3000

[deadeye]

I really love my Lazer. I got a 6" and never go without it. I had a 7 inch and it was stolen but since I got the 6" I wont go back to a bigger hand auger. It so much easier to zip a smaller hole through the ice and the lazer blades, when kept sharp, are as fast as I could ask for. I picked up one of the strikemaster sharpeners and give the blades a once over every couple trips and have not been disapointed. The old Mora is hung up on the wall in the garage now for a decoration. I bet mine has done 200 holes this season so far. I have been using it to make a hole for the transducer even when I got the power auger out. Its nice to have it away from the action and not getting tangled up with the fish.