Alright this auger is finally in my price range and I know I can buy a lot of gas for $250 replacement battery. But after using an ION this past week I think I really want one of these augers. I know they were just released this year for the public and it’s fine and dandy of hole popping in 9 to 20 inches of ice. What I’m wondering is how do these augers perform with 3 feet of ice and how many holes am I going to be able to pop. I’m sure these were being tested last year and the answers are in. I have a buyer for my 40lb+ yellow propane guy and would like to go lighter (only complaint). Can the guys who punch 50 to 100 holes a day see themselves getting one of these or will you always be a gas guy? Another question I do Like a 10″ hole in some instances and was wondering if they would be able to use a 10″ blade on this auger? Thanks in advance
If you value the ability to punch 50 – 100 holes in 3′ of ice, at this point in time you’re a gas auger guy. None of the electrics can do that and I honestly doubt they ever will, or at least not any time soon, with an 8″ – 10″ auger.
The Strikemaster will do over 50 holes in 2′ of ice on a single charge. I’ve seen that firsthand. Will the Strikemaster cut holes in 3′ of ice? Most certainly. It just takes more time and you will get fewer holes per charge.
I’ve used the Strikemaster quite a bit the last few weeks and I’ve enjoyed using it. The convenience of push-button starts is addicting. I’ve had the Strikemaster Lithium on one Polaris and a Solo Lazer Mag on the other sled and watched some of the guys I fish with walk out of their way to pick up the Lithium Lazer when they plan to punch a limited number of holes. But it can’t replace the gas auger completely with the way I fish. When I need to rip up an area to find a breakline or chase down a school of spooky perch nothing will replace my Lazer Mag.
I truly hope manufacturers keeping pushing the envelope with the capability of these electric augers. Right now the electrics are perfect for the guy that punches a couple dozen holes or less each time out. In that case, why would you mess with a gas auger? But for those of us that count the holes we punch some days by the hundreds the electrics just can’t do the work a gas auger can do.
So what does that mean for you or others that might be mulling over this same decision? Anglers need to be very honest with themselves about what they need their auger to do, how they fish and how many holes they actually punch during a day on the ice. My gut tells me that the vast majority of anglers never punch more than a dozen holes in a day on the ice. For those guys, the decision to go electric is an easy one. The guys that need the ability to punch as many holes as it takes to get on the fish also have an easy decision with gas getting the obvious nod. It’s the guys in the middle, the guys that punch 20 – 30 holes most time out but want the ability to knock out a dozen or two more should need arise, that are on the fence and have to carefully weigh their options or risk being disappointed with their purchase.
My 2 cents.
