Winter is fast approaching and that means ice fishing is right around the corner. I reached out to fishermen all over the place and asked them what is their favorite auger and why. The answers were greatly varied but the results were good. The fishermen surveyed really liked the following augers.
Let me first say that I have always been happy with the Strikemaster hand drill. The blades last a long time and do not break even if you slam the thing down to break that last inch of ice. My Strikemaster hand augers last a long time and if you are looking for a good hand auger this one is my pick. All I really do for maintenance is keep the blades dry after use and oil them once in a while. I personally give this auger a 5-star rating and if you would like one too, I have provided the link. As of today, this auger is greatly reduced. Be sure to follow or subscribe to my newsletter to receive 2 newsletters per month that include great specials on fishing stuff. I am constantly looking for great fishing items that go on sale. Click on any blue wording to get taken to Amazon where you can purchase it. I higher recommend buying at Amazon because they offer free shipping and it is fast.
Other anglers also agree with me that the Strikemaster is a great hand auger. Here are a couple comments from other ice fishermen:
"7 inch Mora on my Milwaukee with a clam plate. Best setup I’ve ever personally used and I can use my drill all summer long."
The fisherman above takes the auger drill part off and attaches it to a hand drill instead of cranking the auger by hand. A clam plate is a special device used to convert a hand auger to an auger where you can use a drill. This process makes for a very light auger as gas-powered augers can be much heavier and bulky.
"It’s hard to beat a Strikemaster Lazer bit. I have a 8” lazer mag and love it."
The above fisherman recommends Strikemaster also but he chose the Lazer bit model.
I also received a comment from a fisherman that loves Eskimo. He thinks Strikemaster is too expensive. Here is his comment:
"I've owned Jiffy, Strikemaster, and Eskimo. Jiffys are built tough and cut like a *******, but they can be finnicky (sic) with priming and starting. Strikemaster, I don't get the hype. The Eskimo are every bit as good as the Strikemaster but cheaper and built with far less plastic." (I covered Eskimo in a prior post Eskimo Auger )
Apparently, he does not like plastic and Strikemaster does have that. But other fishermen appreciate more plastic because it really makes the auger lighter and that is important when you are lugging way out into a frozen lake.
"I have an Eskimo 33cc 8” auger. It was cheap, but it’s proven to be a good auger, it doesn’t cut as fast as the bigger ones, but with sharp blades it does well and it won’t try to take your arm off. Only bad thing so far was last year I was cutting through 4ft+ of ice, in -20c, after 30 or so holes, the clutch froze up on me, I pulled it apart and it worked fine again after."
That was another comment from a fisherman that prefers the Eskimo 8 inch. He seemed to put it through some very heavy use. Cutting holes through 4 feet of ice many times in the same day.
Another fisherman prefers the Eskimo auger attached to a hand drill. You can buy these conversions kits for under $100 bucks. A good conversion kit can be found here Clam 9935 4567-0792 Drill Auger Conversion Kit
Jiffy augers are also a popular choice and many fishermen prefer them. Here is one comment I received. I bleeped out the profanity at the end.
"Jiffy all the way. I run a 10 inch propane. Cuts like a ************"
A strong comment that shows he really likes it. The ten-inch model is a great choice in areas with larger fish like walleyes and lake trout.
There were fishermen also that prefer using the Nils auger. The Nils is easily convertible and you can use your hand drill instead of cranking it around. Here are a couple comments and under them is the link to go to purchase it.
"Milwaukee M18 Fuel + 8in Nills (sic), very pleased with this setup. Wouldn’t change a thing. Cuts like butter, extremely portable and efficient."
"I'm a Nils augers fan. I own both the 6" hand augers and the 8" power auger. The 6" conversion drill works with a stand battery drill. They all cut faster than any other auger I've used. So far I have convinced about 8 of my ice fishing friends to buy them after using them."
NILS Master UR800C Convertible Hand
The last auger mentioned in my study was the Strikemaster Honda Lite. A couple people liked this one and here is the fisherman's comment:
StrikeMaster Honda-Lite Power Auger (8-Inch)
Well, this concludes my ice auger study. A lot of fishermen participated and I am thankful for their truthful answers. I guess it comes down to the one you like. They are all made well. However, their was an auger that received a lot of positive comments and likes. That one is the Strikemaster Mora. It seems today there are still a lot of fishermen that prefer to hand drill their holes or they just have never tried the quick and convenience of slicing through that thick ice with a power auger.
Good Luck Fishing! Please feel free to comment and subscribe to my newsletter. I will send you some good deals on fishing stuff and mention my new posts. I will not rent or share your email and you'll get no more than 5 emails per month.
Jiffy augers are also a popular choice and many fishermen prefer them. Here is one comment I received. I bleeped out the profanity at the end.
"Jiffy all the way. I run a 10 inch propane. Cuts like a ************"
A strong comment that shows he really likes it. The ten-inch model is a great choice in areas with larger fish like walleyes and lake trout.
There were fishermen also that prefer using the Nils auger. The Nils is easily convertible and you can use your hand drill instead of cranking it around. Here are a couple comments and under them is the link to go to purchase it.
"Milwaukee M18 Fuel + 8in Nills (sic), very pleased with this setup. Wouldn’t change a thing. Cuts like butter, extremely portable and efficient."
"I'm a Nils augers fan. I own both the 6" hand augers and the 8" power auger. The 6" conversion drill works with a stand battery drill. They all cut faster than any other auger I've used. So far I have convinced about 8 of my ice fishing friends to buy them after using them."
NILS Master UR800C Convertible Hand
The last auger mentioned in my study was the Strikemaster Honda Lite. A couple people liked this one and here is the fisherman's comment:
"Strikemaster Honda Lite.
I got one 2 years ago and it's amazing. It sips gas, the lazer blades are crazy sharp and it weighs only 23 pounds.
My friend has an eskimo mako and I've used it lots. It is cheaper up front but doesn't cut as fast and it breaks your back after a few dozen holes.
I also don't buy in to the whole "plastic parts are awful" hype. My husky chainsaw has tons of plastic on it and I have abused the **** out of it without ever breaking anything. The plastic they use is made for cold weather and can take a hit. It isn't the same plastic they use to make Hot Wheels tracks for kids."
His point is that this auger is made of heavy, sturdy, plastic. This is definitely one to take a look at if you are getting ready to purchase a new auger.
StrikeMaster Honda-Lite Power Auger (8-Inch)
Well, this concludes my ice auger study. A lot of fishermen participated and I am thankful for their truthful answers. I guess it comes down to the one you like. They are all made well. However, their was an auger that received a lot of positive comments and likes. That one is the Strikemaster Mora. It seems today there are still a lot of fishermen that prefer to hand drill their holes or they just have never tried the quick and convenience of slicing through that thick ice with a power auger.
Good Luck Fishing! Please feel free to comment and subscribe to my newsletter. I will send you some good deals on fishing stuff and mention my new posts. I will not rent or share your email and you'll get no more than 5 emails per month.
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