Cutting holes in Ice: Pt. 1 Hand Augers
Original Post:
http://www.blogsmonroe.com/fishing/?p=197
I know back in the days of my grandfather, when all the aunts and uncles would hit the ice on Lake St Clair after church, the only way to fish through the ice was with a spud. It was a regular family outing back then, complete with lunches packed for cooking later while on the ice. Everybody was packed into the Model T, and across the lake they went.
I talked about spuds briefly while discussing items that are essential for overall safety about a month back. Just for giggles, I have cut, actually chisled a few holes now and then with the spud. If I had been around in the 1920’s and ’30’s, I would have been out there with the rest of the hardy folk spuddin’ holes open. I like the sport, and just cannot see myself not doing it. BUT, I am so glad “this ain’t the 20’s”, never mind that they roared or anything else.
Today’s ice anglers have it made. I would not leave home without my spud, specially during early and late ice season for checking thickness. I will use it occasionally for re-opening holes made and left by others, but only if its an inch thick or less. Its not that its hard or work, its the time taken to do it. During the winter, time is prescious; get to the lake, drill the holes, find the fish, catch the fish and before you know it, its dark already.
The first auger I ever had, and still the only hand auger I own, was bought right here in Monroe. My father got it at Cook’s Sportland over on Monroe Street down by the theatre. You have to understand something here, my dad walks into Cook’s and starts talking to Bob about the U.P., fishing the river or whatever, and the next thing you know, he is walking out the door with something. Luckily for me, one time it was a StrikeMaster Lazer Hand Auger. In the 15 years since then, I have replaced the blades just once. That 6″ auger has cut ice on Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Erie and quite a few inland lakes in between.
There are other name brands, and I have no doubt a lot of them are good products. Just going from my own experience, the SM Lazer is going to be hard to beat. Usually about $80 bucks for a 6″ model, there are sizes smaller, and sizes bigger. This size is pretty universal, and if hand power is all you have, its not that bad when cutting through some thicker ice. Bigger diameter augers are a bear to cut through deep ice.
These days, I only break out the hand auger for early ice and prefer to use it with 5 inches of ice or less. Three or four cranks and you are through, cleaning out the hole and fishing. The same reason why I like using it for late ice too. Another nice thing about using it during these seasons, is because ice thickness is at a premium. When I am walking out there, I would like to keep the weight in the sled at a minimum. The hand auger takes at least 20 or 22 lbs out of the sled compared to the power augers available.
Other brands to look at are made by Jiffy and Eskimo. StrikeMaster even has a less expensive model, called the Mora. Its worth spending the extra bucks to get the Lazer version. One thing for sure, compared to the other brands is availability. If you have a blade come loose, crack or get nicked by a rock, you can walk into almost any “mom and pop” shop and find SM products to replace the blades. The 6″ size is the most commonly sold, so that almost ensures you will find parts.
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