So many different Ice Augers

No more hand drilling for me. Got to that age where the ole back ain’t what it used to be. Will be purchasing a new power auger as soon as I can decide on which one to purchase. That’s where I need some help. I live in Iowa so I won’t be drilling through much more then 24″ normally. Looking for a 8 or 9 inch hole. Once stepped into a 10″ hole and bout snapped the ole leg. I’m not a rich man but I don’t want a cheap throw away either. Any and all help would be great.

Come out to the IDO Get-Together on the 24th and you’ll be able to fish with a bunch of fellow Ice Headz and I’ll have a Strikemaster 224 – 2 stroke and a Strikelite 4 Stroke on hand for testing. I’m sure someone will have a jiffy available too. So you’ll be able to try augers from both the major manufacturers and have a pretty good idea which auger is right for you.

For my money, knowing that you’ll rarely run into ice over 24 inches thick, the 4 stroke Strikelite from Strikemaster is the way to go.

Here’s the info on the Get-Together on the 24th. Fish for the day or grab a room and stay the night after hitting the ice. Either way a good time will be had by all.

2009 Winter Get-Together January 24, 2009

I’ll just recommend my flagship model. I fish a 7 inch Strikemaster Lazer Mag express. A 7″ melts through the ice cutting 23% less than an 8″ and almost 40% less than a 9″ while weighing less. Its bullet proof. People just think I’m ripped,…. theres my secret. And yes, 30″ walleyes fit through them.

You should take James up on the offer. The get together will be alot of fun I have the Lazer Mag and love it but I can’t wait to see the 4 stroke in action

I would also recommend staying with the 8 inch hole. I use to think I needed the 9inch hole when I was younger but in all reality 8 is plenty. There are a lot of the guys even going to a 7inch auger now days.

Looks like we were responding at the same time Matt

So your not ripped

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And yes, 30″ walleyes fit through them.

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They fit… and make a cool sound like a cork coming out of a champagne bottle on the way topside.

Nope , just strong willed

The only time I think you’d even want an auger bigger than the 8″ is when you’re fishing BIG lakers or 20+ lb pike. Anything less than that and the 8″ auger does a fine job. And there’s a lot of very experienced ice guys out there like Matt that use the 6″ and 7″ augers without any issues related to getting fish on the ice.

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I’ll just recommend my flagship model. I fish a 7 inch Strikemaster Lazer Mag express. A 7″ melts through the ice cutting 23% less than an 8″ and almost 40% less than a 9″ while weighing less. Its bullet proof. People just think I’m ripped,…. theres my secret. And yes, 30″ walleyes fit through them

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I will second what Matt says. I have 3 of the 7″ augers. They are much faster and a little lighter. Plus they can easily rip through any amount of ice….I am am certainly not ripped

I have the LM-8 and want to get the 6 for my panfish excursions. The 8 is great, but I get pretty winded every time I take off and drill another 20 holes. I can’t imagine how tired I’d be if I didn’t have the lazer mag.

Is there much freeze up difference in the hole sizes?

I don’t imagine it’s much difference as we are hopping hole to hole quite quickly if we aren’t marking/catching fish.

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Is there much freeze up difference in the hole sizes?

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A 7″ hole will freeze faster, but I’m not sure if its significant enough to differentiate.

I also have the 7″ strikemaster and have no problems. I would not trade it for anything. Drilled 30 to 40 holes saturday only stopping once to put gas in it(wasn’t full when I started). Best x mas present I have ever recieved.

After listening to the great guys on ido here I bought myself the StrikeMaster Strike-Lite for xmas this year and love it. I love not haveing to worry about mixing gas and oil and weighting in at 20 lbs is a plus.

Wow great responses, looking like Strikemaster might be king of the hill. A Strikelite would be great but I see it’s only a couple pounds less then a Mag Express but the Lite is a 4 cycle. I have plently of 2 cycles around the house so gas wouldn’t be a factor. The Strikelite might be a couple hundred more though.

I have owned a Jiffy all my life and currently own a model 30 jiffy. The unit works fine and have had few problems with it. Now I ran a new strikemaster Saturday I believe a ultra mag if i remember right. The thing was amazing! Do not even put an force or weight on it..the unit just grabs hold and just takes off and cut through 20″ in seconds! Have a hunch my next will be a shaver and not a chipper

Here’s the other side of the coin. I have an LM10 from the first year produced. (I think that was around 99 or 2000.) Any way. It’s been bullet proof and until this last year punch a ton of holes eery season. (I now have two girls in diapers.) The only thing that’s been replaced was a gas cap. (User error.) Good luck on your hunt. As you can tell my vote goes to Strike Master.

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looking like Strikemaster might be king of the hill.

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On this site, yes it is. Strikemaster is a sponsor.

Do a quick search on the ice fishing forum and outdoor gear forum, check out all the issues strikemaster augers have been having lately. Broken handles and poor cutting tops the list.

I asked the same question last winter…got the same type responses. So I bought a SM. 2 brand new augers in a year with numerous problems, both new out of the box…problems. Same can be said for others SM’s…new out of box, broken handles and poor cutters. I finally have one that’s running and cutting as it should, took a few trips to the plant to get it in shape.

Although I own a new Strikemaster, if I needed a new one today, it would be a Jiffy STX.

BIRDDOG

Why would you go to the second best auger on the market??

I have a jiffy legend lightning stealth 9 inch 2 hp.Had the pull rope break this year but its 6 years old.I just put my first set of new blades on it and now i have to lift up on it while cutting.It cuts fast.

I was in the market for a new auger this year, walked into the local bait shop to discuss prices on a new Strike Lite and he had a Nils hanging on the back wall. I knew my brother swore by his so took a chance and got the Nils. I couldn’t be happier with my purchase. 48″ bit, all steel construction, a power head rated for more than twice the run hours of the competition and only 22 pounds.

i know strikemaster is a sponsor here and darn near everyone on here has one but all I hear is from one end of the spectrum or the other. Either they r great or are brokedown. I run eskimo they make great augers and wouldnt switch for nothing had it for 16 years now and the only thing I’ve changed is the gas cap spark plug and gas tank. Had a big oops with the tank when it fell off the 4 wheeler. I think their augers are just as good if not better than SM or Jiffy but they all make good augers today.

IMO, the best auger on the market today is the Nils Master. Very light, and super fast. It outshines the competition in every category.

Not only that, but it has a standard 48″ shaft so extensions are not needed.

It has an industrial grade Tanaka motor that is rated at a significantly greater life than that of the Tecumseh motors on a Strikemaster and Jiffy (soon to be discontinued BTW).

I can punch holes one handed!

The Jiffy STX would be my second choice, and so far is the only auger that has been able to keep up with my Nils.

I wouldn’t get too wound up with which ones the best.

They all cut holes.

I would focus more on trying one before you buy one. I forgot to look were you live…but we have plenty of staff and members that would connect with you on the ice to let you try one first hand.

I have the amazingly light 4 stroke Strike Lite. The 4 strokes certainly do have some advantages over two strokers.

Guess I didn’t see the post from James either.

One thing is for sure, what ever brand people have is the best to them! With the exception of one.

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I wouldn’t get too wound up with which ones the best.

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touche’

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I would focus more on trying one before you buy one.

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I agree, so if you can, try them all out.

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I have the amazingly light 4 stroke Strike Lite. The 4 strokes certainly do have some advantages over two strokers.

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and some disadvantages too. Ask Hanson about that one Brian

Bottom line is that any well maintained auger is going to last a long time and cut a lot of holes. I just have the opinion that a couple stand out from the crowd, especially if you intend on drilling a lot of holes.

i have a strikemaster mag2000 with a 8″ chipper blade. for the price, its a tough unit to beat imo. i think i saw them running for around 260/280 at gander up here. i got mine after the season a few years back for 220s… i couldnt pass that deal up.

I have two OLD SM’s – one is 16 or 17 yrs old and the other is in the 25yr old range. The newer one has been updgraded to a 10″ Lazer auger bits – and the old one recieved the 7″ bit from the new one….and are both pretty bulletproof. They both have the old style STEEL handles. I have several friends that have new SM’s and EVERY ONE of them has had their handles replaced after breaking them. SM has GREAT customer service, and I am sure they will resolve this issue in the future, but for the time being, I would look for a USED SM with steel handles.

Tim