I have had my ION for 2 years now and I cannot think of why I ever had a gas auger. I have drilled literally hundreds of holes with this and it does not even act like it is anything but new. You keep the battery charged correctly and you can get 40+ holes out it every time. I have a drill with a 7″ lazer auger on it and once the ice gets over 6″ thick put it away and go with the ION. I only got this because Strike Master lithium was burning up and I do not regret my decision at all.

I have the K2 energy battery unit with management and I love it. The lighter unit is great and the quick charge is nice though not needed for my use. I can run all day and the battery drops from 13.5V down to about 12.8V. The next day it will drop down to 12.2V and I run my backlight up around 50% and do camera from time to time on my LX9. I have yet to run it dead except when my charger quit and I was not aware of it. The LX9 will run down to about 9.8 volts before shutting down so you can run the battery way down below any point it should be discharged.

Randy,
Totally agree about the bag not balancing when the camera is removed. I love the unit and it works really great so I added a second strap that goes from the middle of the case between the Velcro locations and ran it through the existing handle. It not only supports the front of the case and unit, it balances out the weight shift when the camera is not attached to the rear of the unit. I think it would be a good addition in general for Marcum to add. If you would like I can send you a picture of what I did.

Man, I was in Denver last weekend and really thought of hitting someplace. Had to be the dutiful dad though and party with the family. It would have been fun somewhere else in the country for once. Nice looking fish for sure.

These are all good questions and I would bet that time will answer all for us ice fisherman. There are few things you need to keep in mind as you look at this technology though; first of all, which Lithium technology are you looking to use. As you may or may not know there are several types of Lithium compounds used in making batteries and each has its place and use. The batteries that I am using and is part of the discussion here is a Lithium Iron Phosphate compound. The battery is made by using 3 smaller cells in parallel and then 4 cell sets in series to create the 12V @ whatever amp hour configuration. You will find that these batteries operate a higher output voltage than you are used to since they charge to a maximum cutout voltage of 16.0V. The battery will operate around 12.8 – 13.2 V for a fully charged unit with the low current draw that we see in a Marcum unit. These technologies are fairly new to the public and have a tremendous sticker shock value, some of which makes the cost vary is the fact that for proper operation there is actually electronics built directly into the battery to make sure that damage does not occur if misused. If weight is a significant issue, these batteries weigh in at 2.8Lbs for a 10AH unit versus the 5.7Lbs for a 9 AH normal lead acid battery. Also, if you can believe charts, the cold temperature usage of these have been tested at -20F and have a good lasting power curve that indicates that some of the temperature issue have been fixed. As for the long life aspect of these batteries, it will totally depend on how you use it and how well you take care of it.

The battery that I use is the K2 series of batteries and charger so that is why I have included their info here. There is nothing unique about their data other than it is what I know of from my research.

If you use these batteries or not is purely a personal choice, but make sure that you do the research up front because it can be a big investment and you need to know what is the proper way to use and take care of your investment.

Yes, they sent the amount shown on the document, 3.4oz and if you set the unit as shown and carefully add the oil, it will take around the 3+ oz of the oil. As long as it is as shown and using Strikemasters directions, I figure it has to be correct.

Thanks Joel for going to the source. I have my data sheet that came with the new oil package that Strikemaster sent me this summer and I will try to attach it here as well. It says the same and details all the specifics.

Well there are 2 ways to find out; one is to contact Strikemaster and ask the question directly or I believe I still have the instruction sheet they sent me this summer for my new unit and you can see what they told me in that document. Either way you will know what Strikemaster has indicated is the correct method.

I have used the 2, 3 and 4 lb Nanofil for the last 2 years or so and have found no icing issues on the spool or that if has much effect on the fish coming around it. Playing with my camera when the fish are not biting, I have had fish come right up to the line and brush it with their fins, move back and than continue to swim past it without a notice. I like the thinner diameter for the same lb rating as the braids I have used in the past. It is very strong and does not track water up it as you reel. Just my observations.

This is very interesting though. This summer I received from Strikemaster a package for my new Honda unit that gave me new oil and the sticker. It specifies putting the auger tip at exactly 5.5″ from a horizontal flat surface and the oil can only come to the very bottom of the hole when in that position. Let me tell you that it does not take anywhere near the 3.4 oz of oil that the manual says to use. It is much less than 3 oz of oil when filled per the exact instructions.

Yes, the old style of pads are the best for what you are looking at. Then if you want to play a little, go and get a gel pad liner and glue those in place as padding. You should be able to get those at a Menards or Home Depot or some place and make them nice and comfy!

Randy, go to a second hand sports shop and look at the hockey pads. They had some that go from shin to over knee that I used for my son in a play for Charlottes Web and they sound a lot like what you are looking for. Full padding is what made them very nice for being on your knees for long intervals.

Good simple tip Joel. One we should all heed to keep electronics operational. Also, I would add that when possible, the instant you get back to the world of electricity, plug that battery in and charge it. It does not matter if you been out for an hour or 8, that battery has been cold and it will help keep it in tip top operational condition for the next day on the ice.

As long as you are asking that, any possibility of getting Fox North to broadcast in HD? All the IDO shows are SD only and it really takes away from all your efforts.

Joel, This is timely info and input. I was just in the process of figuring out how I wanted make my auger transportation better in my trailer because I have to keep the auger horizontal. I may just look at this method.

Hi All,
Lots of good comments here and it is an interesting set of responses. Now I am not a great fisherman and I feel in awe of so many of you here as I read what you do and how. I read all the magazines and watch the videos and things do not always work out as one would hope and sometimes I feel like I must be a jinx on the ice when it comes to good bites. We all have had the times when you sit next to your fishing partner and they are catching one after another and you couldn’t buy a bite. However I would not mind sharing info if it actually could help someone else improve what they are doing. Now, I do not know what it is like in your part of the world, but here on some of the small local lakes, when you share the info about a good bite we get almost instant broadcast of this across hundreds of miles and we end up with people from 100 miles away fishing our small lakes. Now you say what is wrong with that? The “what is wrong with that” is when you sit and watch these people slaughter the fish by not only taking their limits but sometimes 2 and 3 times the limits because they are on small outback lakes where there are no wardens. These are not isolated incidents and they really make you not want to share with anyone because we have a lot, which have been witnessed by many including myself, of these so called sportsmen that do not care about laws or the sport. So it gets really hard to want to care about sharing more if the result is not good for the sport. And for the next question about reporting these people, yes we have tried but they are usually long gone before any warden can ever show up if they ever show up in these remote areas.

I had a chance to use the update to 3.17 and found that it changed the way the menus appeared and at first I was not sure if I liked it. As I used the new layout and found out about the changes to the sensitivity range and the added chart zoom among other features it became clear that this was a good update and that the added functionality, though not always needed by all, had its’ place in this unit and I like what I see and tried.

Yes, a good heat shrink tape will work, but since that is not always available, use a good silicon bathroom sealant, work it into the cut and cable and let it cure, then apply the electrical tape over the top. It will seal it up perfect and the tape will help to keep if from stripping out when hitting the ice. As always, nothing beats a new cable though.

That’s cool. I loved those short ‘hits’ of mostly unedited fishing fun. Look forward to those to come.

X2

The palomar is simple and quick with cold hands as well.

I have about 20 of my Fiskars on 12″ pre-tied leaders and then attach those with a quick clip. I can control the jig like a tied-on but have the flexibility to switch quickly to try various presentions. It is a little more of a storage problem with the extra leaders in the box but it helps me when I am on the move with limited rods.

Interesting because I looked at it as an advertising angle as well. I have actually run this test when my nephew was in the market for a new flasher. We ran my LX-5 against the Huminnbird and the Vex FL-22. I had full confidence in my LX-5 because I have used and was well versed in all of the above units. The bottom line is, no pun intended, was that yes, you can see the separation and by playing games you can make them all see some separation, but with the LX-5, I did not need to adjust and re-adjust the power to make if function. Hands down it was better than the other 2, since that time I have played with and purchased the LX-7 and found it to be as good or mostly better as I get to understand the great flexibility of the adjustments on the unit. No matter how you look at it, 3/4″ and less of separation can be seen, it is just how you want to define it. And as I have said previously in other posts, it is not so much what the unit can do but what it is that you like and like about the unit. Once you choose one you will most likely defend it no matter what.

Did the same about a month ago with my 797C on my ARGO Conquest. It will help a great deal. Good luck this year.

Handline2, send me a PM and we can talk about the process to get a full tank.

I too have been refilling the 1LB tanks for years and have had very little problems with them. Once in a while the blow off vent will leak or the main valve will leak but as you indicated, sometimes it just takes a little time to warm up and seal again. I use the Mac Coupler MACCAPS, on the rare canisters that do leak, to seal them while they are warming up. I usually can remove the cap later without any issue. Sometimes you will have a bad tank and will need to dispose of it correctly. The best part is that you can refill for less than $1.00 / tank if you do it correctly.

That is truely the ability that separtes those that are great at their profession/trade and the rest of us that really would give anything to be able to make those distinc and knowledgeable contacts with fish. I wish is was something that could be learned easily. Great article.

Wow, I am no procrastinator and I have my ice tools and electronics in the trailer and ready by the 1st of November. I would love to think I could be out by Thanksgiving knowing it will be well into December based on the last several years. Just in case, I am ready the instant ice is hard enough to move on. Come on cold weather I need the ice!

I have played with that concept for the last 5 years. I have a cooler I keep in the garage with a heater element, in this case an old heating pad and a thermostat. I have run temps from 45 to 62 degrees and have found it seems to be best if you can keep them around the 52 to 56 degree zone. Also, a great source is the web at the how to raise wax worms sites. They give a lot of great info about getting the most from the life of these little bugs. Good luck.

First out this year will be local around my south central area here in WI but the first actual trip will be day after Christmas up to Gogebic again. Haven’t planned beyond that yet. Plenty of local lakes to hit again this year.

Love my Yaktrax XTR Extreme cleats. Best I have ever had and see no reason to go more agressive than those unless you plan to walk on a glacier.