tray19682005 Posted June 11, 2011 Posted June 11, 2011 I need some advice on an gas ice auger. I want to speend about $400 only and am wanting a 8 inch auger. Anyone have any advice? I like the prices on jiffy models but im open to any model so long as its trouble free. 90% of my fishing in on ice 8 to 12 inches thick. Unfortunatly a Niles is out of my price range. Im hoping some one can tell me from experience the problems they know or short commings of models or brands,what ever I get I will keep for many years ,so I want the best for the money. My spending price might go up some if I can talk wife into it, its taken me 3 years to get her talked into a gas model as is!!! LOL THANKS FOR ANY HELP
Adam Bomb Posted June 11, 2011 Posted June 11, 2011 Im not a fan of the new augers as theyre in their infancy and have had some issues. If you can find a good used Jiffy or Strikemaster with a Tecumseh engine on it i would purchase one of those. They are fantastic units and have already proven they can stand the test of time. My Dad and Unlce have had theirs for like 30 years and ive had mine at for going on 10 years now. Reliable and can be had for 150-200 all day long. Thats the route id go and spend the remainder on whatever else you need for ice fishing. Good luck on your purchase.
somethin' fishy Posted June 11, 2011 Posted June 11, 2011 Tom, go to http://www.icegator.com/. I purchased one of these units last year. If you fish a lot of thick ice you'll be impressed. It is electric, 24 volt, extremely fast and quiet. No gas oil smell and fuel to lug around. Well worth checking out. You won't believe the amount of holes you can drill on a charge.
Adam Bomb Posted June 11, 2011 Posted June 11, 2011 Just an FYI you need to buy an auger to go with the ice gator unless theyve changed. Theyre are bar none the slickest electric model out there. Do they make one that turns a 10" auger yet?
tray19682005 Posted June 13, 2011 Author Posted June 13, 2011 (edited) I looked at some jiffey models this weekend, liked the cost but are they any good.... Im not interested in an electric at all .. but thanks for all suggestions. I just got an 89 yahama exciter with a 570 motor to use only for ice fishing in very good condition with only 2355 miles on it. Now wife wants to go as we wont be walkin 1 1/2 miles to our favorite spot. I have all the gear but gets old drilling holes by hand in 8 in to 1 foot of ice so she gave in and said get a gas auger, as I let here cut 2 holes last year and she didnt want to go agian! lol Edited June 13, 2011 by tray19682005 add more info
steeliebob Posted June 15, 2011 Posted June 15, 2011 Get a Lazer hand auger 6" if you are only drilling through a foot of ice it will beat anything else out there unless you are unable to use the hand auger. They are priced about $60 and I can put one through 30 inches of ice in a little over a minute. It is much lighter, makes little noise, and no gas to mess with. The 6 inch will drill an 8 inch hole. I have pulled 14 pound steelhead through the hole, unless you are after the hogs on L Superior it should be drilling big enough holes.
its an addiction Posted June 16, 2011 Posted June 16, 2011 I've used both the strikemaster lazer and the Nils 6" hand augers. The Nils is so much better and was by far worth every penny and I would have been happy paying more for it. I used to break a sweat drilling holes, not anymore. I could drill hole after hole and not get tired, no sore arms, no sweat, and it was lightning fast. I've heard their power augers are the s**t too.
N II Deep Posted June 16, 2011 Posted June 16, 2011 you guys really need help, its Mid June and your talking about Ice augers?
tray19682005 Posted June 16, 2011 Author Posted June 16, 2011 you guys really need help, its Mid June and your talking about Ice augers? Nows the time to buy off season you get better deals! I bought all summer gear during winter so im all stocked up and now geting extras for winter fishing .And a few spoons here n there but I have gotten better deals this way just not as much inventory in stores but alot of clearance items can be found .
Adam Bomb Posted June 17, 2011 Posted June 17, 2011 Like i said, the old jiffys are great augers. Yes they are good. My family has been running them for years with very little work being done on them. Clean a carb, replaces a recoil rope, simple stuff. They just keep running. Great augers. Same can be said for the Strikemasters with Techumseh engines..... If i was to buy a new auger, id probably get the Strikemaster 4 stroke Solo.Oh, and you can never talk to much ice fishing. Its the best there is!
steeliebob Posted July 15, 2011 Posted July 15, 2011 Like i said, the old jiffys are great augers. Yes they are good. My family has been running them for years with very little work being done on them. Clean a carb, replaces a recoil rope, simple stuff. They just keep running. Great augers. Same can be said for the Strikemasters with Techumseh engines..... If i was to buy a new auger, id probably get the Strikemaster 4 stroke Solo.Oh, and you can never talk to much ice fishing. Its the best there is!I think Adam Bomb is addicted
Just in time Posted September 2, 2011 Posted September 2, 2011 I had a nils power auger that wouldnt drill after 4 holes. They didnt warrenty the cutting head so now I have a strikemaster lazer pro. Ergonomically it is much nicer than the nils. Nils is quiter though. Jiffys are loudest from what I have seen. I really like the solo engine that strikemaster uses. Starts with one or two pulls and the lazer auger really drills. They sell a lazer mag for around $450.
Line Dancin Posted September 2, 2011 Posted September 2, 2011 You say you dont want electric, but i'll tell you after seeing one of the guys i worked with use an ice gator. i would never buy a gas unit. That thing is plain sweet and can cut a ton of holes, more that you would ever need to in a day in no time flat. That will be my next auger and i was against electrics at first also.
Garord Posted November 16, 2018 Posted November 16, 2018 Sorry to bring this thread back around...just my two cents...to your knowledge box... I bought an Eskimo Shark 51cc - 8 inch auger from Canadian Tire last year on sale. Best investment I have made in a while. Push the primer bulb till fuel flows through the hose. Choke and it usually starts on the first pull. Keep fingers way from the blades. Wicked sharp even after 100 holes. Only drawback is the weight when pulling by hand on a sleigh. In the 70's all I had was a spud. I also had an 8" Eskimo https://under-the-open-sky.com/best-ice-augers/ for 8 or 9 years back in Wyoming, and it always worked great for me. Just had to change the plugs from time to time, but it was very reliable. When I moved to AK last year, I sold the 8" to a buddy and bought a 10" Eskimo up here. I went with the 1.8 hp Mako (the "cheap one" from Sportsman's). After a couple dozen trips last year, I've got no complaints. It runs reliably, even on the real cold days, and cuts great. Having gone to a 10", I'll never go back to using an 8". The auger cuts just as fast and easily as my 8" used to (as long as you keep the blades sharp) and I like having the extra room to maneuver a big fish into the hole. Plus, if I'm fishing shallow water I like the extra visibility I get through the bigger hole. Just some suggestions and one good video from Youtube, that I hope will help.
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