Drilling through ice with my Normark hand held ice auger

[HvensFury]

Please tell me where can I buy that hand held ice auger? I live in a warmer climate and can't find one anywhere so I will most likely get it by mail order. If yours has a 'brand' name that will help. Thanks so much!

[Freshwaterphil]

@HvensFury

It's made by Normark, the model is Swedebore. I think the Finbore is even faster. I picked mine up on special at a fishing store in Montreal (Le Baron).

[MrOntariofish]

@Freshwaterphil im in ottawa and i love lebaron

[Freshwaterphil]

@MrOntariofish

Me too. Just picked up a 6 inch Fin Bore 3, should got easier and quicker than the one in the video, can't wait to try it out this winter.

[MrOntariofish]

@Freshwaterphil yea i wish the ice would hurry up  too much of a gap between open water and hard water

[Freshwaterphil]

@MrOntariofish

Don't worry, it's on the way. May actually sneak in one more softwater outing before freeze up, would probably be my latest outing in a season.

[MrOntariofish]

@Freshwaterphil good idea but ive already put my boat away for the season. might go from shore 1 more time though

[BRANDONTARBOX]

the ice looks like junk ice

[Freshwaterphil]

The ice was actually very solid. It had rained heavily a few days before, then it dropped to minus 10 for about 3 days, which made the surface like a skating rink.

There were actually people playing hockey on the river while we were ice fishing.

[RACErocker]

quick for an 8? hah if i had a camera that wasnt so old id show u wuts up, i own a 8in. eskimo standard and an 8in. strikemater lazer, the lazer is deff. faster and right now im goin thru 25 inches of solid clear ice in just under a mintue

[Freshwaterphil]

I hear the Fin bore is a lot faster with the curved blades. I found that out after I bought this one, as it was the last one on special and I had gift certificates I won which were used to buy it.

[RACErocker]

yea the Strikemaster Lazer has the curved blades, if i had a power auger motor id be able to go thru 5 inches of ice per SOCOND, and thats no lie i tried it and times it with my buddies lazer, sooooo fast, i wannt try and buy a motor for my auger, early season ice is ok but this time of year takes alot out of you, especially when you dont have a snowmobile either and have to lug all ur shit out by the power of the legs god gave u lol

[Freshwaterphil]

@RACErocker

I guess it really depends on where your fish. In Quebec, were allowed 10 lines per person, so a power auger is a must. That's when I take along a sled to haul everything on.

In Ontario, it's only 2 lines each, so carrying a heavy power auger isn't worth it unless you keep switching spots very often or plan to drill dozens of holes. In general, I put all my gear in a backpack, strap the folding chair on my back as well, then carry out the manual auger to my spots.

[RACErocker]

yea we are allowed 3 each in michigan as of last year, so i gotta drill 6 holes when my buddy comes out, through roughly 30 inches of ice, it gets tiring really quick, and we usually walk 3/4 mile out dragging a 110lb shanty, thats empty, then you add all the gear, makes for an all day trip sun up to sun down, no way in hell ill walk out there for only a few hours of fishing lol

[amarkey09]

man you drilled that pretty quick for an 8" i own a mora 6" does the job for what i need it for.

[Freshwaterphil]

It was my first outing with it, blades were razor sharp.

Once the ice gets thicker than 2.5 - 3 feet , drilling with the hand auger gets real tough.

[Freshwaterphil]

I don't ice fish often enough to own a power auger. A couple of my buddies have power augers, so whenever I'm fishing with them I don't bring this one along.

[shmuckseason]

any tips on how to use those i have one and it wont make the hole lol

[Freshwaterphil]

To start the hole, you'll need to put some pressure. Once you've drilled a couple inches, just keep steady motion.

I'm using an 8 inch diameter auger, which is the hardest one to use, and takes a lot out of you when trying to drill many holes.

The 4 and 6 inch models drill through a lot quicker and with less effort.

[RACErocker]

if it wont start the hole no matter how hard you press on it and no matter how much you try, take it back, and if its an HT brand from WALMART, THEY R JUNK, I BOUGHT AND RETURNED 4 OF THEM AND NOT A SINGLE 1 WOULD WORK

[Freshwaterphil]

@RACErocker

This one has slanted blades, so starting the hole is easy enough.