who makes a good 6" ice skimmer

[offshoredrilling]

I'm coming into my third season of ice fishing and one piece of gear I begrudgingly continue to use is the old $3 special ice skimmer. What QUALITY options are out there for a 6" hole? Most of the stuff on the market wont fit in anything smaller than an 8"

[Scupbaron]

go to your local dollar store, they got all kinds of things you make work in kitchen section

[winterbuddy]

HWI Lifetime skimmer from Sportmens Direct

[RyanW]

I use the 30” plastic black/yellow Frabill scoop. It works for 6” holes but not as well as it does for 8” holes.

[jbird68]

I need a new skimmer this year. I have an old one I inherited but need a second one for the boy. I am looking at this from marine general.


https://www.marinegeneral.com/product/lakco-ice-skimmer-2/

[Sandcountrylivin]

This is the best I have used beside a cheap plastic that gets the job done.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dB0sfLKzJ68

[lynng]

This is the best I have used beside a cheap plastic that gets the job done.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dB0sfLKzJ68

+1 for the Deep Freeze Skimmer

[bart]

I use the 30” plastic black/yellow Frabill scoop. It works for 6” holes but not as well as it does for 8” holes.

I was thinking about getting one to save on the back... does to work well for this purpose?

[fishEH]

I have a couple "nice" 8 inch metal scoops. The metal ones always freeze up and the ice doesn't just break off like you might think. So I'm still using a 6 inch plastic cheapy.

[Baetis62]

I took a cheapo orange plastic one with the small strainer and sandwiched the handle between some scrap wood I had in the shop with a couple of pipe clamps. Nice and long now.  Don't have to bend over too far when I'm seated or hole hopping.  Works great.  I also have the fancy Frabill one which I picked up for cheap late last year.  Like that one too but as mentioned it does work better on 8" holes.

[Monticatgeek]

I use this one. have both the 16 and 32 inch models. the 32 inch saves on bending over to clean the holes. mainly use the 16 inch in the one man shack where I am close to the ice anyways.

http://stores.clamoutdoors.com/clam/accessories/ice-skimmer.html

[Uncle Al]

I like the ones like Jbird posted, get one with a longer handle, saves on the back, and the handle can be used for a measuring stick.

[kevin1]

these things are great come in two sizes as well, we use the larger one to shovel snow at times, the best thing is they float.

[Flint]

these things are great come in two sizes as well, we use the larger one to shovel snow at times, the best thing is they float.

That’s the best one I seen. You can trim it with tin snips and flame polish the edge if needed for smaller holes.

[Iceassin]

I took a cheapo orange plastic one with the small strainer and sandwiched the handle between some scrap wood I had in the shop with a couple of pipe clamps. Nice and long now.  Don't have to bend over too far when I'm seated or hole hopping.  Works great.  I also have the fancy Frabill one which I picked up for cheap late last year.  Like that one too but as mentioned it does work better on 8" holes.

I bought a piece of aluminum stock the same size as the existing handle and screwed them together. Also bought one of those retractable key holders, cheap shower curtain ring and connected everything together and attached to the D-ring on the lapel of my jacket...works great.

[jbird68]

What about this? I know it's for cooking but it looks interesting.


https://www.webstaurantstore.com/6-bamboo-handled-coarse-skimmer/407SKIMBC6.html

[SirCranksalot]

I have some sort of kitchen utensil with the strainer part on a 45 angle to the handle. I find that works better than the 'proper' skimmer I bought with a 90 deg angle.

[Iceassin]

What about this? I know it's for cooking but it looks interesting.


https://www.webstaurantstore.com/6-bamboo-handled-coarse-skimmer/407SKIMBC6.html


(Image removed from quote.)

Why not? Just waterproof the handle.

...or these. I actually have the 6" that I use with my deep fryer. Very light yet durable.

https://www.amazon.com/Strainer-Swify-Stainless-Spaghetti-Noodle-30-5cm/dp/B074W434H1/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1543073226&sr=8-3&keywords=deep+frying+scoop

[kpd145]

Need to have it plastic or metal.

The wok strainer will not work because the fine mesh will become a solid piece of ice. See what happens when you bang that soft metal.on hard ice to break the ice off it.

For a 6" I would use the smaller jiffy metal scoop. Anything larger go with a little dipper.

I carry a bait net when I am running and gunning to clean put hole and even that mesh became frozen. 

[George_B]

Been using the “Big Dipper” 8” scooper for about 15 years. I tipped the opposite end of the scooper with a metal strip I use for chipping the holes as the day continues. What I am trying this year is switching out the 8” strainer with the 6” so I still have the long reach. Even with chipping the ice, the hole still would become smaller in diameter, originally drilled 8”. Like another post, I too used it as a way to get the snow and slush away from the action. Originally bought online from somewhere in Minnesota, now available thru Cabelas.

[jbird68]

Are any of them with plastic scoops durable? I had two with plastic scoops and they both end up cracking and tearing. But I've been looking at one from frabill but it has a plastic scoop.

[jchunter]

Are any of them with plastic scoops durable? I had two with plastic scoops and they both end up cracking and tearing. But I've been looking at one from frabill but it has a plastic scoop.

I mostly use the cheap plastic one's and they last for at least a few seasons and longer. I don't bang them on the ice though. When I want to knock the ice off I just lift my leg in a way that I can smack it on the bottom of my boot on the tread part. Works pretty good and keeps it from breaking your scooper.

[bearnoob]

I use a metal one. Not sure if it would fit in a 6" hole, but the metal is easier to de-ice than plastic if you have a heater. Just set the scoop on top. You also get a nice sizzling sound when you clear the ice out of your hole. Just don't touch the business end.

[SirCranksalot]

The main thing, IMO, is to have the scoop on a 45 deg angle rather than 90 so you can fling the slush off to the side. (Try to miss your buddies boots if you want to go with him again!)

[kpd145]

Jiffy makes a black powder coated metal scoop that works pretty well. It should be ok for a 6inch hole

[bearnoob]

Jc, you've given me a new idea...

When I want to knock the ice off I just lift my leg

I always knew a few beers on the ice was essential. It never occurred to me to use the byproduct to de-ice my skimmer.

[Kevin23]

The basic orange plastic ones.. the ones with the black plastic handle seem to hold up better, the metal ones crack. I usually clean the holes with the auger but use one when hopping skimmed over holes.

[jethro]

Jiffy makes one called the Chipper Dipper for a 6" and one for an 8". I have both, they have chisel points on them and measurement marks up to like 19". Powder coated steel, I've had both of mine for many years, they are bulletproof.

https://www.reedssports.com/jiffy/jiffy-chipper-dipper-6in-skimmer-59583?gclid=Cj0KCQiAgMPgBRDDARIsAOh3uyI49xX6Y5h1ltSAUdmsHHAluna1ioD0-VhOX6YPzJAvEdK-P0a30_EaAmOdEALw_wcB

[jchunter]

Jc, you've given me a new idea...

I always knew a few beers on the ice was essential. It never occurred to me to use the byproduct to de-ice my skimmer.

Hahaha,  That's funny right there, I don't care who you are.

[buz23]

If you get a metal one make sure it has rivets and not spot welds.  The spot welds won't hold up when you try to bang the frozen ice off the thing.

I like the ~5 1/2" one that has a telescoping handle, but I've lost two of them so far.  A 6" skimmer will have trouble clearing a 6" hole after a few hours.

I'm currently using a really cheap plastic one with a yellow skimmer head and black handle.  Works for me and I won't feel bad when I lose it.