Many Fishermen Talk About Their Favorite Ice Auger Picks - A Comparison Post 2018 Best Augers for Buyers

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.

290149 StrikeMaster Mora Hand Auger-6 in. MD-6

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.

Strike Master Ice Augers Lazer Hand Auger, 6-Inch

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.

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.

The Eskimo M43Q10 Mako Quantum Ice Auger is a Great Choice!

Some fisherman want the best auger to drill through those thick ice layers.  During the 2018-2019 ice fishing season, the Eskimo M43Q10 is the auger to get.  The ten-inch gas powered auger cuts through thick ice like a steak knife cutting through butter.

The auger comes highly rated by many fishermen and is growing in popularity.  Its features include the following:

1. Foam grip handles with fingertip throttle control.  It really stinks when your hands are frozen before you even get done drilling your holes and the foam grips here prevent that from happening.
2. A 30:1 gear ratio.  The higher the gear ration, the faster the auger blazes through thick ice.  30:1 is harder to find for a 10 inch auger.
3. 42 inch auger length-  enables you to drill through the thickest ice in winter.
4. High performance 8000 rpm Viper engine.
5. 10 inch diameter auger - If you are heading out for big walleye, northerns, or lakers, you will appreciate the larger hole.

Eskimo began making augers way back in 1960 and they know what they are doing.  The ice auger is your most important tool while you are out on the ice for without it you ain't fishing.  So make sure you have a good, reliable one like this.

One of the things you will really like about this auger is the mitten sized grip handles that make starting it as easy as tossing a fish in a bucket.  No need to take off those gloves or mittens and freeze your fingers off.

Lastly, this machine comes with a full 5-year warranty.  And, Eskimos customer service is top-notch.

You will find this auger by clicking the link below.  I highly recommend you purchase it online through Amazon at this link.  It's currently on sale here only through Amazon which offers low prices.  NOTE: Just went on sale!  Click through to get it $30 off!

Eskimo M43Q10 Mako 43cc with 10-Inch Quantum Ice Auger

Port Clinton Ohio is Good Walleye Ice Fishing Area.

The ice is good at Port Clinton Ohio and fisherman are venturing out to catch jumbo perch and walleye.  As I write this post on January 4, 2018, the ice is about 6 inches thick and guys are going a mile out.  Here is a video of a guy who didn't have great luck on walleye but it shows a few fish, as well as, some jumbo perch.

Be careful if you fish from Port Clinton as sometimes the ice breaks away and creates openings as explained by Chris in this video.  Tight lines!

Video by Chris Bulaw on YouTube

Visit me on YouTube:  My channel is Jeff Fishing and Everything

January 3. 2018 Ice Conditions on Presque Isle Bay in Erie Pennsylvania

The ice on Presque Isle Bay is getting thick enough to fish and one brave soul ventured out today at the foot of Chestnut.  The following video was shot at the Liberty Docks and shows cloudy but well covered ice.  I would give it two days.  By January 5th it should be good but use caution and test thickness.

Have a video that you would like shared on this blog? Just leave a comment or hit me up on YouTube.  Sharing videos helps you get more views and adsense.

Quick Steelhead Fishing Update Erie PA January 2, 2018 (1/2/18)

Steelhead fisherman are going to have to wait a little while for solid ice to form on Lake Erie and the bay.  Here is a video of the conditions today at Trout Run.  Ice jams and creeks are frozen making open water fishing impossible.  Ice is forming quickly, though, so get your ice gear ready.  Misery Bay is fishable now and other areas will be soon.  

Video by Andi Kulbacki on YouTube

Visit my above YouTube channel for Product Reviews, fishing videos, tips, and other stuff related to fishing!  Jeff fishing and everything

Buffalo New York is Good for Ice Fishing -January 2 2018 Report

The ice is around 7 to 8 inches thick around Buffalo, New York and the yellow perch fisherman have been doing fair.  Lots of small fish being caught and some nice one's in the mix.  A few northern pike are also being caught.  Here is a video of todays conditions on Lake Erie.

 

Video from the "Buffalo Perch Killer" on YouTube.

FISHING RESULTS:  42 PERCH - 6 KEEPERS = 1 NORTHERN PIKE

2018 Heavy Snow & Cold Temperatures in Erie Pennsylvania Making Fishing Difficult

January 2, 2018 - A large amount of snow is preventing good ice from forming in Presque Isle Bay.  Arctic chilling temperatures will continue to form ice and fishing should be good within a few days.  Streams are frozen and steelhead fishing has grinded to a halt unless fishing the mouths of creeks or through ice when conditions allow.

My latest video on YouTube has been posted as I am getting ready to go smelt fishing either in open water or through the ice.  Since it is winter, in my spare time I work on my fishing reel collection and getting rods ready for the upcoming fishing year.  If anyone knows where I can get a Shakespeare WonderCast number 1776 fishing reel handle, I would be willing to pay around ten bucks for it.

  This is the sideplate for the reel that I have.  I need the handle!

Like fishing videos??? I am on YouTube.  My channel is: GeoJaph - Fishing and Geocaching

New Fishing Magazine Blog

I decided to keep this Lake Erie Fishing Blog and also have a magazine type blog with pictures of caught fish.  You can check out the magazine at FishBoast.  So please come on over and check it out and submit photos of your caught fish.

Northern Pike Compete with Other Predators Like Walleye and Should Not Be Introduced.

A friend of mine in the Western USA just sent me this article which was posted on County10.com  It is very important to not introduce any non-native fish or organism to any body of water.  Lake Erie has been a similar victim recently with the introduction of the round goby and other fish like the white perch.

A photo posted on County10.com Tuesday morning of a Pavillion angler and the Northern Pike he caught in Ocean Lake on his birthday has confirmed the worst fears of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.

“We heard about a northern being caught in Ocean last winter, but we were never able to put our hands on the fish, so this is the first official confirmation that northern are in there,” said Craig Amadio, WGFD fisheries biologist in Lander. “Northern Pike are very aggressive that require a lot of food. There are suckers, carp and such in the lake for them to eat, but with a predator like that our big concern is they could escape and establish themselves in other waters, we want to keep them out of Boysen.”Amadio said people don’t realize how easily fish can move around. “We’ve been managing Ocean Lake for walleye, which is another top predator, and to have two top predators in the lake is not good for what we want to do there,” he said. The fisheries biologist said that because northern are such voracious eaters, they don’t do well in Wyoming waters because there are usually not enough fish to sustain them.

Amadio praised the angler, Russell Naef (above), for keeping the fish intact and calling in when the G&F reposted in comments on the photo reaching out to him. “We want to get the otoliths from the fish (inner earbone) because we can tell how old the fish is as otoliths grow in rings, and they retain the chemical signature of the water they grew up in, so we can tell where it came from when it was young,” he said.

“We have to assume there are more of them in Ocean Lake. If any other angler catches one, we’d like them not to release it back into the water, but kill it and keep the head so we can harvest the otoliths,” he said. “These northern are a threat to our entire fishery out there.”

Amadio, who came to Lander from Green River, said he’s had experience at Flaming Gorge when Burbot first showed up there. “We manage that for lake trout and kokanee salmon, but the burbot are also top predators and they’ve had a negative impact there.”

He said it’s way too early to know how the northern got into Ocean Lake in the first place.

Northern Pike. h/t Photo WGFD / Pitchengine Communities

Steelhead Update for Erie Streams - November 11, 2015

The heavy rains ended yesterday and the high murky streams undoubtedly resulted in a fresh run of steelhead trout.  I went on a scouting mission today and can report that the smaller streams are about fishable.  They were still high at  2 pm this afternoon, but close to good fishing levels.

Tomorrow should be an excellent day to fish.  I did not see any fish in the streams today due to the murky conditions but here is a video of what 4 mile creek looked like.  I have caught steelhead on days like today but with the leaf litter present today it would be difficult.

Tomorrow try bright eggs and bright fly patterns.  If you would like to learn how to steelhead fish the streams around Erie, you can check out this article by Tim Trainor Erie County Steelhead Tactics.

Good luck fishing!

Heavy Rains Bring in the Steelhead.

Tuesday November 10 2015

Heavy rains today are contributing to very high Erie steelhead streams.  The streams are flowing high and murky which will result in a fresh run of trout.  It usually takes one to three days for streams to improve from a rain event like we are having today.  This weekend may be excellent fishing conditions if we do not get pounded like today.

We still have about a month before the local streams become plugged with ice.  I will provide an update on Friday for my readers that are out of town.  Stay tuned!

This is what twelve mile will hopefully look like when it goes down and is running clear again.  Big fish!

Steelhead Staged and Ready to Run Up Erie PA Streams -2015 October 10 Report

I just got back from a steelhead scouting trip and can relay the following news.  Streams are extremely low and most do not have any fish.  I spent my time on the eastside streams and the only place I located fish was in 20 mile creek by New York State.

The few fish I did see were very big and a couple looked to be close to ten pounders.  Nobody I saw had a fish due to the water conditions being real low and clear.  The fish were spooked and not looking to feed.

This time of year, the fish stage at the stream mouths waiting in anticipation for the next heavy rains so that they can run far up the streams.  It is a safe bet that this is the case.  The majority of fish are in the lake and not in the streams.

Heavy rains are coming on Monday night and this should send the fish scampering up the streams. Steelhead fishing will be excellent when the high stream levels subside.

Please remember this year to pick up your trash while you fish the area streams.  We have lost a lot of fishing area due to irresponsible fisherman who toss their trash on private property.  Tight lines and good luck!

2015 Lake Erie Perch Fishing Spotty at Best

The summer is quickly going by and local fisherman are wondering where all of the perch schools are.  The perch fishing has been spotty at best, with many fisherman giving up due to the cost of a trip out to the normal perch zones.

I walked the north pier the other day and saw a couple real nice perch in buckets.  Could it be that the schools stayed a lot shallower this year than in the past?

Some fisherman have been fortunate to hit a school and have made great catches.  Rob Dance and his crew recently had a great outing and caught a nice bucketful.  "If you're not catching perch, come join me." said Rob who regularly goes out into the depths on Lake Erie.

Check out Rob's latest video where he and his crew got into a nice school of Lake Erie Perch.  The summer is not over yet, so get out there and have some fun and catch a nice dinner.

https://youtu.be/-F50j-hDIV0

Erie Streams Stocked with Thousands of Steelhead Smolts

Recently, the PA Fish & Boat Commission released thousands of 6 to 8 inch steelhead smolts into local streams.  These steelhead hopefully will return from Lake Erie in a few years and venture up the same streams to spawn which will provide anglers the opportunity to catch big steelhead trout.

Today, while I checked out 4 mile creek, I saw a few kids fishing for trout.  They were hooking quite a few smolts and some unfortunately were released practically dead.  The kids really could not help it as there were literally hundreds of smolts in the bigger holes along with recently stocked brown trout.

I tried to film the smolts in 4 mile creek with my phone camcorder but the video does not show many smolts due to the glare of sunlight off of the water.  Believe me though, that black mass on the far side of the video is hundreds of small smolts.

The fishing in 4 Mile Creek is going to vastly improve over the next few years due to the  thousands of steelhead smolts being released.

Fishing Report -April 15 2014 - Presque Isle Bay (Erie Pennsylvania_

Large numbers of jumbo perch are being caught by boaters in the deeper areas of the bay.  The sizes are mixed with many fish over 12 inches.  Nice Crappie are also being caught along with good sized bluegills.  Gar pike are also being caught.  Steelhead are in the creeks in good numbers.  Shore fishing is beginning to pick up in the usual spots.  One thing to note that fishing off of the public dock thus far this year has been real slow.  Usually by this time, large jumbo perch can be caught off the public dock.  However, this year I have not seen any perch caught off of the dock.  South pier is still on the slower side but on certain days it has been fair.

Ice Out: Crappies Starting to Bite

Recently, I have been scouting around Presque Isle Bay in search of locating fish.  The ice is practically gone from the bay now and the fish should wake up from their cold water slumber and start biting again.  I have heard rumors of jumbo perch being caught but I have yet to see this.  Small crappies are biting and yesterday I only caught one.  There are some big steelhead in the creeks and I saw a nice 28 inch fish caught out of small Cascade Creek.  

This Sunday, April 13 is the annual SONS Ice Out Party.  If you have not attended an Ice Out Party, they are a ton of fun for the entire family.  Ten dollars per person will get you in and you do not have to be a member to attend.  Door prizes are given out throughout the day and most people do win something.  The best hot dogs in the world will be served, Smith hotdogs, along with beer, pop, and chips.  The money raised by SONS goes directly into helping with the Lake Erie and Presque Isle Bay fishery.  Each year SONS raises and releases thousands of Yellow Perch, Walleye, and Steelhead into Lake Erie.  Without SONS, it is highly likely that the fishery would not even be close to what it is, so if you cannot attend the Ice Out Party, please join the club or give them a donation to help out ===>SONS of Lake Erie

Saturday is the first day of trout season and it looks like it is going to be great weather.  Fishing season is now upon us so get those fishing poles ready and head on out!  Good Luck!

Presque Isle Bay Ice Conditions Still Very Good

February 24, 2014 -  Presque Isle Bay is still covered with ice and ice fishing conditions are excellent.  Ice depths vary around the bay but most ice is very safe.  Today, there was very heavy fishing pressure in the Stinkhole and Misery Bay.  Stinkhole is producing beautiful Crappie while Misery Bay is producing a lot of Gills and mixed catches of perch and Crappie.

Fishing will be excellent throughout this week as temperatures will stay below freezing.  Ice fisherman are recommended to wear cleats as the snow has melted and the bay is pretty much an ice skating rink.

Good luck fishing and please be safe!  Always have the spikes around your neck just in case.

Presque Isle Bay Solid and Ready for Ice Fisherman

Cold weather has really improved the ice conditions over the past week.  Remember, ice is never really safe; however, most of Presque Isle Bay can now support ice fisherman.  Today, fisherman ventured into the deeper waters off of the foot of Chestnut Street.  Fisherman were also spread out and were fishing popular spots like Misery Bay which is usually really good fishing early season.

A good number of big lake perch are being caught in all areas with some steelhead also being caught.  The weather is looking to be cold the next few days so the ice should even improve.  Good luck fishing!

Lake Erie Perch Schools are Primarily Mixed Age Classes

Recently, I went out fishing on my friend Rob's boat and we have been doing pretty well on perch.
This year, we seem to be catching more White Perch than in other years.  Also, the age classes of the Yellow Perch seem to be mixed.

There are quite a few smaller fish mixed in with the jumbos.  Here is a video of our latest Lake Erie trip.  We caught quite a few Yellow Perch and White Perch.  My friend Rob also caught an extraordinary double that you can see in the video.  Good luck fishing!

Perch Out...Bass In.

Today I went fishing down to the South Pier to try for a trophy smallmouth bass.  Bass have to be at least 20 inches to keep in Lake Erie until June 15 when they only have to be 15 inches.  I don't keep bass but they are fun to catch.

I only had about two hours to fish before dark and I tried a bright red rattle spoon.  After about an hour and not catching any fish, I moved out towards the end of the pier.  Immediately, I started catching those pesky gobies.  Then, my rod bent in half and I had a big fish on.  The fish raced towards the surface and I knew I had a big smallmouth hooked.  The fish fought hard and after several minutes I had him to the surface.  My net was not long enough though to reach down into the water so I asked a gentleman to net the fish for me.  He came over and netted the fish and said, "you'll be eating good tonight."  I looked at him and said I was going to toss it back in because it was shy of 20 inches I thought.  I quickly measured the fish and it was just over 18 inches.  It was a fat female, I am guessing around 3 to 4 pounds.  I released the fish unharmed and cast out again.  This time, a white perch nailed my bait and I reeled him in.

That's all I caught today but it was fun.  Remember, June 15 is the bass opener in PA.  Have fun fishing and hook a big one!!!

(sorry folks, did not have my camera today :(