Sk8man

I think the drill was $300. I already had the manual auger which I think was $89 when I bought it back in the 90's (and I think they haven't changed prices much since). The conversion kit was about $30 but the Runnings store here in Canandaigua has one for about $15 but there is no "safety" attachment with it. Here is what it looks like: I also included the older one I use for comparison. Tip: The drill is critical to me but I see guys also using the 1/2 inch DeWalt out there. Sometimes you can pickup a used a manual 7 or 8 inch auger cheap on here or elsewhere (e.g. Ebay or Craigs List)

Ice auger consideration: If you are into exercise and fitness a manual 7-8 inch auger is the way to go ....burn a bunch of calories For the rest of us "dinosaurs" after a few thousand holes it was time for other options.... Power gas augers - great for thick ice conditions (over 12 inches) but very noisy (spooking fish), potential for leaking gas and fumes in your vehicle (don't ask how I know), and somewhat heavy and bulky to carry with you. If you fish up north a lot probably worth considering. I gave mine away. Power electric augers - jury is still out on them....some recent improvements but again fairly heavy and "clunky" to deal with. No gas to mess with, no fumes, less noise. rechargeable batteries with decent charge times and quieter than gas augers. Electric Drill conversion kit approach - my favorite (Lithium Ion) and here is why: Very light weight and compact, no gas cans and oil etc. to mess with, doubles as a great drill in the warmer months, very short charge times, and great power (torque) for drilling many holes without changing batteries. An extra battery can be carried in your jacket pocket to keep it warm but I've drilled 50 plus holes in 6-8 inch ice without need for a second battery. The key thing to success is selecting the right drill for the job. After trying out several different battery powered 1/2 inch drills (Ryobi, Makita, DeWalt, Black and Decker (about the same as DeWalt but maybe not as durable) and Sears. I tried the 18 volt Lithium Ion 1/2 inch Bosch Hammer drill/driver and wow! It blew the others away big time... It has both high speed settings and high torque settings with variable strength settings from 1 -24. You need to use torque for this application. It is a virtual animal in terms of torque and could almost pull you into the hole if not careful . For the bottom part of the auger I used a 7 inch Lazer manual auger with the handle section removed. There are now a number of conversion kits available but I went with the only one I knew about at the time (6 years ago) the Icemaster because it also has a safety cord to prevent loss of the bottom half auger part if somehow the drill chuck were to loosen (never so far). I think it is by far one of the best investments I've ever made (drill) See pic:

Johnny made a very good point .....the ice picks can't be in a pocket or somewhere else or you will never be able to use them (from experience) Here is what they look like for anyone not familiar with them These happens to be some that I bought but for many years I had a pair that I made by cutting off an old broomstick into 4 or 5 inch sections and pounding a large spike into the ends and sawing off the head and then filing the point till sharp and using a section of parachute cord strung in holes drilled in the opposite ends of the "handles". They need to be worn around the neck as Johnny mentioned for easy access during an emergency. I use old wine or champagne corks to cover the points of the picks

Cool sled Steelie thanks for sharing. Hey Thun I too am guilty of dragging everything but the kitchen sink out there. Years ago I had a full size insulated chest and full sized tobogan that I dragged out there....after that I went with just a bucket, jigging rods and bait for years....now I'm back midway between the two

Very nice LL John They are one of my favorite fish to catch and to eat...

Thanks....loosened and tightened a little but let the rod do most of the work. Probably lucky it was in cold water too We didn't have a net in the boat either....

Admiral Byrd and I were in the midst of terrorizing the panfish and along comes the party crasher Offered a little excitement on 4 lb test on ultralight tackle. A hair over 20 inches long. He took off like a rocket when released.

Something to try when things are slow jigging - 1. Tie a bright colored tiny (#12 hook) dry fly about 8-10 inches up from the jig with a single spike or waxie covering the tip of the hook 2. Make up some #8 long shank gold Mustad Aberdeen hooks with a bit of RED yarn wrapped around the hook shaft and glued with a spot of glue and fill the remaining exposed part of the hook so the tip doesn't show with spikes or waxies or a short section of nightcrawler and tie it about 8-10 inches up from your main jig. Sometimes it can be tied to a loop in the mainline to "dangle" and sway. The good thing about it is that even if you lose your bait fish will sometimes still hit just the yarn and hook. You do have to be careful when the fish gets up towards the top of the hole if hooked on the main jig so as not to snag up on the edge of the ice with the fly or hook ahead of it.

suggestion edited and placed elsewhere in ice fishing

Nice job on that sled especially the runners I don't often take my Clam shelter (usually bucket or folding chair with sled) but these are the rod holder setups (Anglers Pals from my previous boat) one folded inward position (storage) and the other is shown outward at angle. Note the taped up foam noodle section on the rope for hand comfort/protection.

May she rest in peace Bucky. That is a very nice tribute to her and gives a real clear look at an unusually active lifestyle and long full life...God bless her.....you were lucky to have her for your mom. Les

I had my 13 ft Sport Whaler for over 22 years and sold it for $300 more than I paid for it and it was near the middle of Lake O more than once back when I was a little younger and more foolish than I am at this point in life....at one point one of the big ocean going ships out there had a 23 ft Whaler "dingy" and the guys on board just looked at me and scratched their heads in disbelief It survived 10-12 ft waves in a big storm once too and the guys on the pier at Sodus Point were cheering me on when I came in the channel because the 30 ft boats were struggling to get back in.....a Whaler is the only boat I'll ever own after that experience.

I think much of the time it is a matter of putting your time in and being lucky to be there when the fish are cruising the shoreline. Sometimes fresh egg sacks can be a real enticement though

Rolling out of the harbor at the crack of dawn with a cup of hot coffee in hand checking out the sunrise and suppressing my excitement about what might happen next. It's kinda like some other things in life....I've done it thousands of times but it is always as good as the first time

Congratulations Matt.....now that is a real Christmas present!

Makes me kinda glad I've held onto my Mag10's all these years I never remember any of these problems before they sped up the downriggers up significantly.

Great pic John. Best of luck and Merry Christmas to your son and we welcome him to LOU

This is certainly a time of year to stop and "smell the roses" and to celebrate and appreciate good health and happiness. I'd like to take the opportunity to thank all of my fellow LOU contributors and "lurkers" alike The LOU "family" is a pretty special bunch indeed. Merry Christmas and may all of you have a wonderful New Year and tight lines during the upcoming fishing season.