Hi All-
Here is my tips contribution.
I use charcoal heated tipup boxes so I keep a handheld click start torch with me on the ice for that.
Since I had the torch, I can kick the snow off the ice with my boot, hit the ice with the torch for a few seconds to create a puddle on the top of the ice, set the vex ducer on the puddle and it shoots through the ice!
I can check depths, see if fish are under me, structures etc all without drilling extra holes. If I am setting up tipups on a 10-20ft drop off, I will use the torch to Premark my tipup locations at the depths I want to target without having to drill lots of holes to find those depths on a gradual drop. Its pretty slick. Using my DIY track sled, I don't actually have to get out of the sled or shut it off to find my spots or the fish. Only when I find them is when the auger comes out.