sorry--old dude needs auger help

[old geezer from here]

i know this has been beat to heck--but here's a chance for some one to help an old dude replace an auger  # 1  will be 70 in march  ----will be living on summitt lake  in argyle- --but do plan to take trips to tupper,long lake and lake eaton ,with occasional trip to lake francis in vt--- --what is the absolutely best hand auger for someone who isn't  what he used to be  i know the ice up north can be pretty thick going 2 ft or more---#2  if i have to buy a power auger ,what do you think of eskimos sting ray for some one who will be out up north maybe 3 or 4 times---i already plan to buy one of those new plastic sleds----any and all input is greatly appreciated                  

[hot tuna]

I have had a Nils 6" auger for 5 or so years now and really like it.. I bought a replacement head (expensive $69.00 ) last year just because. One thing I will say is DONT hit anything (wood, etc) or it will be useless requiring an authorized sharpening.. I found out by on only the second time out with new head I hit some submerged wood and it was useless thus requiring me to put the original head back on which cuts fine until I send (need to soon) the new-old head to Frank for sharpening..
With that said, I find the nils very easy to use ,no pushing down and offset handle is awesome using 2 hands, it's all I use ..

Now :
The ice was extremely thick last 2 seasons and while I used the nils 6" , I found it difficult to keep the holes clear and given the thickness of the ice a little tough fishing out of the 6" hole , mostly lake trout.
My brother-in-law bought an exkimo stingray, 45 cc 8" auger and I was glad he was willing to drill some holes for me.. It seemed to work well and wasn't terribly heavy @ 28 lbs.. Cant say as I'd recommend it as we only used it towards seasons end but it worked fine if your looking at a power auger.. I'm still cool with my lightweight hand auger.. I also have an old jiffy 30 9" that is a beast to lug around and has set in the basement for 5+years, probably will never use it again.

You say you live on Summit , My son lives near there (was just there sat) and I never but always wanted to fish that lake, I have fished others in the area..
If you know of public access or would like o fish together there sometime that would be awesome.. I could also let you try out both augers if you can wait that long, lol..
Good luck and have a great season:
Rich

[rgfixit]

65 here....I qualify as an old geezer....sort of.

I use a 4.5" fin bore III. Easy drilling, no problem landing fish. Been using them for many years now. Also, easy to get replacement blades.

Rg

[kyle1982]

I also have a 6" nils best hand auger i have ever used.

[RodandBobber]

If you've got a little coin to spend, go with an Ion. If you're poor like the rest of us, 6" Nils is hard to beat. I use a 6" Mora Lazer auger and that cuts like butter. I am 36 though, so still in my prime and might not be the one to ask.

[bart]

I also have a 6" nils best hand auger i have ever used.

X2

[mbart]

Both the Nils Master and Fin-Bore are great hand augers, the twin grip, offset handle is more efficient your using both hands while drilling. Fish 307 in LG, sells the Fin-Bore.

[RIVERRAT2]

i use a hand  lazer drill[5in] i drill about 5 holes at a time till i find the pannies, but
i do have the hand drill rig[18V] that gos on my hand lazer drill ,i use it for real thick ice
I AM an old dude[76]
 
RAT

 

[rdhammah]

i have a SM mora 6" auger. works great as a hand auger. bought a Rigid hammer drill at Home Depot. with adapter, it is  so much easier to drill holes, and it's fast!

[Reel_Force]

Just cook some of that food you told me about, and I'll bet anyone around ya will drill for ya - for a plate of that grub! I really (IMO) think the Nils are over rated. I have a Fin-bore III from Fish307 and side by side I see no difference. (except the price) But what makes a difference is the off set handles and good quality sharp blades.

[pmac3]

Nils is ok. I'd get it in 6". I have an 8" and have had a lot of problems with it no matter how sharp the blades are, and I have it sharpened by an authorized professional. They're a little too delicate for the rigors of ice fishing in my opinion and probably not worth the price. If you're interested in a gas auger, the Eskimo Shark Z51 is powerful and relatively light, at least compared to my old Jiffy. Hand augers, a Strikemaster Mora in 6" cuts beautifully with sharp blades and about half the price of a Nils.

[ice88]

 I have a6 inch in a 4 and a half inch nills with a Tanaka motor the best one out there I think hey buddy use mine and he went and bought one

[ice88]

 I have a6 inch in a 4 and a half inch nills with a Tanaka motor the best one out there I think hey buddy use mine and he went and bought one

[old geezer from here]

I have a6 inch in a 4 and a half inch nills with a Tanaka motor the best one out there I think hey buddy use mine and he went and bought one

                  i took your advise--bought the mora in 6 " with  an extra set of blades---the amount of times that i would probally get up to tupper , long lake , and a  few others didn't merit me spending 400 bucks plus for a new power auger----just thought of this --what i save on the auger--maybe i'll see about a shelter for 2---any suggestions 

[icecaptain14]

strike master has a pretty sweet hand auger called the lazer 6 inch bought one last year due to my auger having to fail due to the recoil I was surprised when cutting the ice it was like a hot knife going through some butter

[bucketbass]

Bud if you bought a mora sorry you did not take his advise...mora drilling you will be doing should have got a nils
I can drill 3 holes to one with my nils no doubt to a mora....I have had mine for 6 yrs and still have a replacement head waiting to b used ....good luck

[boss j]

i am not too old but i am disabled with a back injury and i now use the clam plate with a wilwakee m18 drill and a 6 inch laser auger.  this setup need a laser auger. it only weighs about 7lbs! it cuts ice faster than my jiffy does. at the end of last season i drilled 56 holes with on battery in about 22 inches of ice! i advice anyone and everyone to go this way. i can hole hop all over the place and find the fish and structure i want to fish with no effort. then i can follow the schools all over the place and stay on fish all day long! the cost will be right about the same as a good gas auger but the weight makes it the best deal on the market!

[Oldbear]

                  i took your advise--bought the mora in 6 " with  an extra set of blades---the amount of times that i would probally get up to tupper , long lake , and a  few others didn't merit me spending 400 bucks plus for a new power auger----just thought of this --what i save on the auger--maybe i'll see about a shelter for 2---any suggestions 

I don't quite understand  your choice when it was the only Mora vote but made your descion so that's kool.  I turned your current age 3 days ago and run a 5"   S/M lazer hand auger for early ice pulling a 1 man sled and a 8"   S/M lazer mag express power auger when the ice is thick enough for me to use my ATV pulling my 2 man sled.  The smaller the bite the easier to crank, works for me.  A two man shack may be a little more than you want to pull by hand.  Good luck as I know what you mean.

[E Z turn]

I'm a crippled up old Irish Polack who once met a man who was in the civil war. Go with the Nils you wont be sorry .