ice auger help

[GregM]

Hi Folks, I am an ice fishing rookie and would like some help on Auger choices. I just visited my local Walmart and they have a Strikemaster Mag 2000, 10 1/4" MP1025 on sale for $229.96. Is this a quality unit?? Is a 2 H.P. motor going to be a pooch for a 10" auger?? I have some Frabill 10" polar tip-ups already, is 10 1/4" hole to big for these?? Thanks in advance for all the help.

Greg Morse
"I fish cuz the voices in my head tell me to"

[Don__SD]

OK, you will probably get a more indepth like or dis-like from someone but you need to remember that YOU will be carrying this unit around and after you drill a ton of holes that big ol thing will become work. I have a brand name 2hp with an eight inch hole for the most part is good enough and I can drill holes all day. If you are in a area that commonly brings in large fish then a larger hole will be nice. Oh ya this unit will easily go through 30 inches of ice like we had last year.

[Inlander]

Well I cant speak from experiance with a power auger but most the lakes in michigan that I fish dont really get the 2 feet of ice that needs an gas auger. Not saying I wouldnt love to have one but for the money I think a guy would be better off buying a new flasher setup.

[perchjerker]

Personally, I think you are making the right choice. I have had a little srikemaster 49 cc 10" for about 5 years now, never has let me down. Sips gas, not heavy, works like a champ. I know a guy with a big Jiffy and it works nice too, but it a pain to lug around.

[Pitts]

Greg spend the extra $ and get the 9" or middle size Strike Master Lazer auger they are much faster than the chipper blade.
The guy that said you don't need an auger unless you get 2' of ice must like a workout when fishing. I only take a hand auger when walking with a sled only that means from 3 1/2" to 6" of ice. When the wheeler and trailer come out so does the power auger.
I have had the smallest Strike Master for 13 years and I just bought the new Lazer auger to put on the same powerhead from Fleet Farm for 75$ 8". It screws through the ice twice as fast as the chipper that was originally on it and I have never had a problem with the power head and I punch 500 holes a year.

have fun and fish

Pitts

[GregM]

Pitts, thanks for the info. One other question, How do you compare the Strikemaster laser auger to a Jiffy 3 H.P. de-ice auger?? Is the jiffy heavier and slower?? Any thoughts, thanks much.

"I fish cuz the voices in my head tell me to"

[Pitts]

The 3 hp Jiffy will be heavy thats the reason I suggested a 9" or the middle size that is offered in any brand.
While seaching for the end of a point or drilling holes seaching for fish with a foot of ice I will outdistance someone running the Vexilar checking the depth.
I have never had a problem with Strikemasters smallest power head 49 cc, never even changed the plug. I pull the plug and check it out each year but it looks good.
The difference between Jiffy and Strickmaster is the auger speed. Don't quote me but I think the Jiffy runs about 320 RPMs and the Strickemaster runs about 120 RPMs. Of course the bite of the blade is different in the ice so that a certain HP will pull the blade at a different RPMs.
Just think if you could pull a 8" Lazer auger with a 3 hp Jiffy power head how fast it would be:)
It sounds like you are leaning towards a Jiffy and I think you cannot go wrong with either of the two brands but I would rethink the size because the bigger the heavier and I have never seen a need for a larger hole. Large holes have a drawback that can wreck a trip and that is they are big enough to fall all the way to your crotch in water where as a 8" will not allow this unless you have very small feet like a kids. 8" holes are ankle sprainers only:)

Whatever your decision have good fishing.


Pitts

[Tom B]

I've been using an 8" for several years (lazer) and would do another in a heartbeat. Several people told us to be careful with the lazer, as you do not have to push down when drilling. If you do push down, it drills so fast and breaks through the bottom so easy, that I almost sommersaulted over the top on the first hole. The most irritating thing about any gas auger, is leaking gas caps.

Tom B

[Marmooskaman]

The 3 hp engines for either the Strikemaster or Jiffy are tempermental. The guys at Strikemaster told me to let my 3 hp warm up for at least 2 minutes to get it to run normal.The Lazer augers bits/blade system is definitely better than Jiffy,and yes, I have owned both brands. I was looking at the Eskimo Barracuda hand auger at Walmart last night, and I gotta say that may be a close runner up to the Lazer due to it's similar blade design.That Walmart did not have any Eskimo power augers left.Strikemaster's customer service is second to none, and I make that statement from personal experience in dealing with them.

[Pitts]

That is my only complaint and I think they redisigned the cap on the Strikemasters brand but I don't know if it leaks yet.
I would rather have a cap with no vent that seals good and then just crack it off the sealing ring to let air in when drilling.

Pitts

[MedicineMan]

I have tip-ups like yours and bought a 10" Jiffy auger. Makes working with the tip-ups a pain. If anyone has any tips for me, I'd appreciate them. Am considering buying an 8" auger for the power head. Also realized yesterday as I was fishing with my new FL-18 flaser right next to that hole that the flasher would fit down the hole! That won't be a problem after we get enough snow to bank around the hole.

[GregM]

I guess the reasoning behind a 10" hole is for the search of big eyes and pike. As a pretty diehard musky guy during open water, i am always thinking the next cast is "THE ONE". With an 8" hole, are you guys landing 25+" eyes and 35+" pike o.k.?? I'm not saying that is what is going to happen every outing, but given the opportunity, I'd like to land em. Musky hunting has conditioned me into always being prepared the hog. If an 8" hole will suffice, I could be persuaded to change mt train of thought, anybody lose nice fish at the hole and wish the hole were bigger ?? thanks.

"I fish cuz the voices in my head tell me to"

[Pitts]

Greg invest in a telescoping gaff which is nothing more than a large treble hook without barbs. When you are fighting the fish get it tired enough that it just wallows under the hole and hook them in the lip with the gaff.
I had a buddy land a 22# northern with 6# test line this way thru an 8" hole.
I don't think there is a northern or eye in MN that will not fit thru an 8" hole maybe your 50# musky might be a tight fit but in general an 8" is all that is needed.

Pitts

[chrism]

I have been using a 10" 2hp laser strikemaster for four years. No problems to report, it starts/runs good in any temp. I had an 8" eskimo before this, and the Laser cuts a 10" hole just as fast when the blades are sharp.
I don't think you'll be disapointed with this unit, and the 9" three blade auger is pretty tempting - but it was too much $$$ for me to justify.
Good Luck!

[punch1]

I have to agree with Pitts. I have used the 8" 49cc StrikeMaster for 11 years and never had a problem with the hole being too small. I once thought about going with a bigger auger, but changed my mind quickly after carrying my friend's 3HP 10" Jiffy. The only thing I like better with the 10", is that your holes stay cleaner longer. But if you check your holes as often as you should, the 8" does the trick at a cost of much less weight!