What should next big purchase be?

[stinkyfingers]

This decision can also be a function of how much risk each of us will accept. There is, of course, some inherent danger in what we do. Ice skating and snow mobiles claim their share

every year also but it's still a vanishingly low percentage of ice fishermen who drown each year. It seems it's like the dog walkers and the eight year old boys that wind up as the

chief fatalities. The Colorado high country where I fish makes hard ice early and thick (26" last weekend) so apart from first and late ice it's just not an important issue for me. If a

float suit gives you some peace of mind, that's where to put your money. To the OP, it doesn't really sound like a power auger should be even be in your top three priorities.

[BlueSnow]

This is a great question - I'm about in the same shanty after I picked up my big hub this year and upgraded my transducer for the ice.

Not knowing what you have I'd have to throw in a vote for good boots, mittens, coat, chair and various layering clothes.

If you want to take your better half out I'd say get 'em geared up to do well in the cold.  I like taking a small speaker and lantern out that are USB powered with a decent USB power pack.  A bit of music is good company when the fish aren't biting and having a charging capability readily on hand is a huge plus.

My buddy has one of those Lithium ion 8" augers and it is pretty sweet, if you live in a place where you get a ton of ice I can see how that would be a good investment - I like them a lot more than the gas ones just because they are so much quieter.

[Drift Dodger]

My next big purchase (relating to fishing of course) 'should' be a Panoptix Livescope to go with my newly acquired Garmin echoMAP Plus 95sv ... but thinking the price will need to drop somewhat first.

[FlamDragger]

I consider a float suit like car insurance. I’d rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it. (Car insurance is mandatory in this State, by the way)

[BlueSnow]

Oh - an underwater camera!

[meandcuznalfy]

I'm thinking float suit

[bobberbill]

Float suit. Not only will it be the warmest thing you've ever had, you'll find that most days you won't need a shanty/shelter or a heater. Watch ice fishing shows on TV. I can't remember a recent show that all the players didn't have a float suit on. Even the guys that fish pro. Nothing wrong with wearing the suit in springtime cold open water. A good Striker suit is about the same $$ as a good Bird / Lowrance / Garmin  sonar.

[slipperybob]

So I have a Shanty, Flasher, and am buying the portable buddy heater. What should I buy next? I have a hand Auger. Should I buy a drill and clam plate, bibs, Kdrill? All reccomendations welcome.

Big Sled or make your own to drag out all the gear you have.  If hand dragging sled...good ice cleats, better with ice crampons.

[TickleStick]

Love my striker predator bibs, after that purchase I picked up a Ridgid and now I'm waiting for the damn batteries to be delivered...

[RickWakeman]

I hope this isn't serious... this is some real misinformation that you're spreading.

...I can tread water for longer than 99.9% of people on this site.

That is quite a claim. Do you even bench, bro?

[Philip]

That is quite a claim. Do you even bench, bro?

inverted 5gal drills for days  ...bet you dont even hand auger brah

[Hooked up]

Definitely a float suit. Falling out of a boat in open water is a lot different then breaking through the ice.

[MT_mulies]

So I have a Shanty, Flasher, and am buying the portable buddy heater. What should I buy next? I have a hand Auger. Should I buy a drill and clam plate, bibs, Kdrill? All reccomendations welcome.

If you don't mind me asking, how much are you looking to spend?

[profisher]

Im not really sure how much I want to spend to be honest. I really want a Milwaukee Fuel and K Drill, but thats alot of money to spend at the end of the season. Im debating buying the Milwaukee this year and buying K drill next season.

[RStock521]

I'd probably recommend setting aside some money on the Milwukee drill if you're going to go that route and wait for a sale.  There can be some pretty good deals on them.  It also sounds like they have some chuck issues on the new 2804 hammer drill that they will presumably have worked out for next year.  This was the first year for the 2804.

[Reginald Bonz III]

I bought the 6 In K-Drill this year. Just under 200 bucks. Attached to my Dewalt 20V 3ah Hammer drill.  Drilled 20 holes through 14 inches of ice and only went down 1 battery light.  Drill never slowed down.

In other words...You don't have to buy a Milwaukee Fuel.  I know guys that use a Harbor Freight Drill with their augers.

[MT_mulies]

I would get floating bibs and a coat. I got striker bibs and coat separately off ebay just waiting for a deal. I go the whole suit for about $130-140 I can't remember. If you buy them new you will spend $300-400. They were used but in awesome condition. When the ice is thin I wear it for safety, when the ice is thick I wear it for warmth. I get cold easy and no matter what I used to do I would get cold before. Now I don't even take my shanty anymore since they are so warm. And if you buy used you could get the bibs, coat, and drill for under $300 I bet, especially if you wait for deals on ebay, your local classifieds, or facebook if you do that. And I would get the ridged because of their LSA (lifetime service agreement I think is what that stands for) they cover batteries and drill.

[smitty0312]

Smitty Sled Kit......it's a back & lung saver.......

[BlueSnow]

Or put it towards gas money and lodging and take an epic trip somewhere new. 

[jethro]

Imma vote for more gas money and hotel rooms to fish exotic, new places. Oh, and beer money and singles for the dancing girls.

[BlueSnow]

Imma vote for more gas money and hotel rooms to fish exotic, new places. Oh, and beer money and singles for the dancing girls.

Stopped at stow last week to get bait and all they had were Rosie's.  I'm thinking to myself is it better to keep the receipt for the DEC or to lose it to avoid the "Who is this Rosie and why did you spend 4 bucks on her" from the old lady!

[profisher]

Or put it towards gas money and lodging and take an epic trip somewhere new.

This is an idea i can get behind.

[Deal Ninja]

Since we’re nearing the end of the season in our neck of the woods anyway, do what I do.  Make a list of all of the items you’re looking for in the coming year and then buy as you find deals on them.  I buy winter boots and ice shelters in July and buy open water reels & rods and life vests in January for example.  I save thousands of dollars annually shopping this way.  Another tip...Don’t wait to buy until something becomes a ‘need’, buy when it’s still a ‘want’.  You’ll be far less inclined to overpay for things.  I spend A LOT of money on fishing gear, but I save A LOT too.  Just the other day I found a deal and purchased three high end open water spinning rods for $346.  Retail price was $865.  Shop hard, spend wisely.

Oh, and lastly, watch the ‘Best Deals’ thread all year round.

DN

[Royalwapiti]

Guys, he said big purchase.  Picks and ropes are a mandatory little purchase, just like spikes on boots.  I would go float suit for big purchase.  If you miss the year end sales, on Memorial Day Striker usually has a 30% off sale. 

Forget the KDrill, a NilsUsa Orange 6" is all you need, much smoother operating. I used mine for 2 years with basic Hitachi 18v drill. Then I bought a Milwaukee.  The kdrill are aggressive, I hate mine, don't use it. Make matters worse I spent $25 on a ColdSnap cover for it, what a waste.  Stick with Electric drill of some kind.  I can't stand the noise from gas engines on the ice and to make matters worse the guy with the dull auger always ends up next to me...drilling 8 holes.