what is the best auger for using in fishhouse?

Are propane augers worth it? Any problems with freezing propane in frigid windy weather?

Those Ion Electric Augers are extremely fast, quiet, and free of fumes… well worth the price imho.

Haven’t used a propane one, but I’ve heard a lot of good reviews, they typically run about the same price as a good electric like Ion, but my thoughts on extreme cold would be the potential for gas lines and gaskets getting brittle from the gas running through in low temps. Hopefully some guys here that use them can offer more info on that though.

Do they hold a good charge? I usually drill 2 large spear holes. Do they last say…. 100 holes on solid charge?

Their website says 40 8″ holes through 2′ of ice.

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Their website says 40 8″ holes through 2′ of ice.

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Yep, and they charge quickly too from what I hear. A fellow guide up here uses one and the rest of us stare at him out of envy after he drops a hole. I wouldn’t count propane out though, you will get more holes using the cans than a battery; how often do you drill more than 40 holes in one day?

Depending on if I move spear house… drill 16, 8″ holes per spear hole… or late season hole hopping… we drill a ton of holes 40+ for sure..

Then it seems like propane may be better for you, it sounds like you don’t use an ice saw, is that correct?
Late season shouldn’t have blistering temps to cause the theoretical problems I mentioned earlier, and if you drill from inside the shack during the colder months, you may not have to worry about that either?

I have had a ice saw for years. New never used. Maybe this will be the year to break it out. Always figured auger was easier.

Extra battery will run about $140. I’ve been thinking of getting an Ion but the price of a new battery will buy me enough gas to run the rest of my life….

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Their website says 40 8″ holes through 2′ of ice.

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Seems like they fell short of that mark for a few guys on this site last year. Way short. Maybe if the air temp is 45 or so.

The guys I talked to said if you keep the battery out of the sub-zero temps, when not in use, they will do the 40.

Ive seen claims of 150-200 holes of 1 propane tank. That may just be the cats meow….

I didn’t have a permenent… but I like to set up my Otter and then pop the holes with my Strikemaster with the Honda motor… Very minimal fumes, very light weight..

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Ive seen claims of 150-200 holes of 1 propane tank. That may just be the cats meow….

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I don’t think I’d use the propane auger that’s on the market if it was given to me. You have to keep the cylinders warm just like the batteries. I also talked with a well know guy in the fishing industry that seen one of these on fire. Not to mention they’re heavy. I wouldn’t consider that the cat’s meow.

My next auger will be a Honda.

Strikemaster with the Honda. Lightweight and very little fumes.

I have run a propane auger since there inception. I have never seen or heard of one starting on fire? Its propane and if “this person” did not tighten his connection to the tank or had a leak due to misuse then yes he could of maybe had a fire. I just cant believe there wasn’t user error involved. Warm like batteries? Not a chance. My auger is purposely left outside just to see if it will start in frigid temps. It would be no different than your 20lb tank freezing? It has to be damn cold for that to happen. I fish in weather like that and I see a small handful of people out there fishing with me. Jiffy Pro-4 Lite takes care of the weight problem.

This is obviously a ford/chevy thing but I can tell you the facts because I run one. The factory says 250 holes through 24″ of ice on one tank. If you start drilling with 12″ of ice the tank will go into the 400 hole mark.

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Are propane augers worth it? Any problems with freezing propane in frigid windy weather?

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If you’re drilling only in the house, I’d go electric. Check out the Big Volt as it’s the only chipper electric that I know of.

In a house, you’ll be re-opening old holes constantly, which a shaver blade system does not do well. The chipper blade breaks ice as it cuts, and won’t bind at the bottom of the hole like a shaver system will.

The big-volt is a corded system, but in a fish-house, you’ve got a battery ready to hook to anyway. Good luck in making your decision, but stick to something with a chipper blade if opening old holes!

Joel

I have an Ion. It comes very close to 40, 35 maybe. If you’re drilling that many holes go propane, if not,Ion. The shaver blades open holes as good as any chipper. The anti Ion crowd always have negatives but mine has been a dream. I wish the hole was bigger but it’s soooo light and works soooo well I can cope.

Unfortunately, you won’t get many good reviews of Jiffy Augers on here, but they build a high quality product. But I bought a Pro-4 when it came out and have loved it. I have had no problems and it and it cracks right off even on the coldest days. Plus no gas to mix and/or spill and a couple of 1 pound tanks get me through the entire season.

I agree, Jiffy makes a quality product indeed. My dad owns a model 30 with a 7 inch auger and has had it for over 25 years and still runs like a top granted it is pretty heavy compared to today’s standards. But I doubt I will ever see an auger drill as many holes as that old reliable sucker has in its day, things aren’t made like they used to be. Having said all of this my next auger may be a SM lite if not I’m going with the Jiffy Pro-4 lite, the reason I don’t like the SM’s as much is the shaver blades that Joel mentioned above, they wear out faster than the chipper blades Jiffy has, I hate spending 30 plus bucks for a new set of blades every year. Like discussion like this you have to weigh (no pun intended) the pros and cons for each, I for one will never speak I’ll of the Jiffy augers.