What Type of Auger Should I Use for Ice Fishing?

Ice fishing, as described by Ron Fox in HAROLD & KUMAR ESCAPE FROM GUANTANAMO BAY, is _____ Exhilarating, but you’ve got to first get through the ice to start enjoying yourself. The best way by far to do this is to have a friend with a power auger of any kind. The fancier the auger they have the more they usually love drilling holes too! Not everyone has a friend with an auger, or, well, friends, so you may need to buy your own. There are a lot of options, and this guide should help you decide what type of ice auger is best for your ice fishing adventures.

Manual Ice Auger

Are you young and in shape? Do you enjoy spending more time drilling than fishing? Do you enjoy getting sober faster than you can drink to keep yourself warm? If you answered yes to all of these, than by all means, go get a hand auger. Or if you just want to save money, a manual auger will work. If no, then get whatever you can afford.

A manual ice auger really isn’t that bad though. It’s the lightest auger option, doesn’t freeze up, or have trouble starting in the cold. If you’re going manual, we recommend the smallest diameter that will work for you. We suggest a 6 inch model. This Strikemaster Mora 6 inch model is a great option that’s both affordable, durable, and has great reviews on Amazon.

Strike Master Hand Auger

Gas Ice Augers

If you’re familiar with the workings of an engine, this isn’t a bad choice, though propane and electric options have become more popular in recent years. Gas augers have a lot of power and have worked well for decades. They’re also cheaper than the propane or electric options. If you decide to go with a gas auger, make sure its a cold weather rated auger, and not just a post hole auger. The most popular model is probably the Eskimo Ice Auger, which can make an 8-10 inch hole. It’s a good option that is, indeed, cold weather tested.

Eskimo 8 Inch Quantum Gas Ice Auger

Propane Ice Augers

A lot of people are making the switch to propane ice augers from gas. Propane doesn’t spill gas, they don’t have an odor, and their batteries don’t die on sub zero days. Propane has a lot more power during the late season slush. The two most popular propane ice augers on the market are the jiffy and the Eskimo. If you’ve tried both, you know that the Eskimo is by far the better unit, even though the prices are comparable. Check out Amazon for more details on the unit.

Eskimo Propane 10″ Ice Auger

Electric Ice Augers

Ice augers are lighter than propane augers or gas. Also, I’ve found that everyone who’s gone from gas or propane to an electric auger, doesn’t go back. If you’re familiar with lithium ion equipment, Batteries in the cold don’t last as long, but you shouldn’t need to worry about it if you’re just drilling a few holes in the ice. The batteries on Ice Augers have enough power, even in the hole, to bore a lot of holes in the ice, and with the electric motor, there are less moving parts, and instead of having to buy more fuel, you can just recharge your auger.

The Ion ice auger is the most popular electric ice auger in all the forums and groups that I’m in as far as electric augers go. It just plain works and has far less reported difficulties and malfunctions than the others on the market, and the price point is comparable to a propane auger.

ION Electric Ice Auger Series

Drill Ice Augers

This has become my very favorite ice auger style. I have been accumulating more and more 18 volt tools over time, and they’re just so convenient. Having an auger that can attach to a drill means its usually smaller to store, and I can keep using my drill year round. I’ve read reports of guys who don’t like this because they got their drills wet and ruined their drills, but those guys just don’t take care of their equipment. It’s not hard to keep a drill dry.

A drill auger is only as powerful as your drill, so for the most part, you’re not going to have as much power as a gas, propane, or even the Ion 40 volt auger above, but it’ll do 95% of what you want. I personally love a drill auger that also has a manual attachment. The other augers don’t have a nice backup system, and, while nobody really likes hand auguring an ice hole, it beats having to turn around and go home.

Nils Master Cordless Drill Auger

Conclusion: What type of Auger Should I Use for Ice Fishing?

In conclusion, the best ice fishing augers are the ones that get the job done, are simple to use and easy to maintain, and there are a lot of great options with different strengths on the market. Whether you’re hiking into a remote lake, or you can drive your truck out onto the ice to fish, there’s an auger for you. Regardless of what type of auger you use for ice fishing, we hope you pull plenty of fish up through the ice.