Ion in the rain

[SALMONEMIA]

Heading out now. Brought hand auger too. Anyone use ion in the rain yet? Damn rain

[Yachtzy]

I put a thicker plastic shopping type bag over it, and use it with it on, and leave it on all day. Keeps it dry.

[bikrsrule]

Good luck out there SALMONEMIA its supposed to clear and be a awesome day.

[SALMONEMIA]

Good luck out there SALMONEMIA its supposed to clear and be a awesome day.

Thanks hope so.

[meatandmetal]

Good Luck Wayne don't electrocute yourself.    Is this the first time out with it? Hope the wind dies down.

[PDubs/NH]

I put a thicker plastic shopping type bag over it, and use it with it on, and leave it on all day. Keeps it dry.

Good idea. Only problem I ever had with my Ion was on a rainy day... luckily I had already poked a few holes when it died.

[meatandmetal]

Good idea. Only problem I ever had with my Ion was on a rainy day... luckily I had already poked a few holes when it died.

Did you figure out what happened to it?

[Coffin Dodger]

Good luck, Wayne.
Looking forward to the report on both the fish and Ion.

[dickbaker]

Good Luck Wayne don't electrocute yourself.    Is this the first time out with it? Hope the wind dies down.

Blue Bird day in the mountains but pretty gusty wind?
Dick

[Roccus]

 I got a text from him this morning.. he said no rain and he was forging ahead!... I'm jealous... sitting at my desk looking over the list of roof leaks from our new roof... waiting for the roofer to call me back.

never thought about the rain element...I think the battery connection are petty safe... a little dielectric grease can help an deficiencies with that part of it... I haven't looked over the switches to see if they are sealed... a little silicone spray inside might be in order..

[Bearseatfish]

I had mine out in the rain last year it was doing a rain-snow mix. I didn't cover it, looking back I probably should have but it didn't affect the auger at all.

[Mr.Harry]

I too am very curious to hear about this element of the ION - sensitivity to moisture. The thought had never crossed my mind.

[meatandmetal]

I got a text from him this morning.. he said no rain and he was forging ahead!... I'm jealous... sitting at my desk looking over the list of roof leaks from our new roof... waiting for the roofer to call me back.

never thought about the rain element...I think the battery connection are petty safe... a little dielectric grease can help an deficiencies with that part of it... I haven't looked over the switches to see if they are sealed... a little silicone spray inside might be in order..

I thought if you could find it large enough foam pipe insulation (slide it on slide it off) might protect the handles from moisture and being broken. I see the handles possibly being a weak link to the auger. It would have to be pouring with the auger exposed for the electric to be a problem. If I was out in those conditions I would pop the head off and bring it into the shanty. I bought it with the quick disconnect attachment works great so far.

[FSH4FN]

Ion should develop a rain fly/top that buttons up and keeps it dry. I might email the company to ask if that's in their future plans. Even if it were $20 I might buy it just to keep it safe on those types of days

[Elrik]

i have had mine out in the rain and wet snow several times, and using it was never an issue, I think any issues would only ever come from leaving it sitting out unused in the rain over the course of the day. Either bring the head into the hut, or cover it with anything to keep the water off of it while unused and you should be golden. Why buy a rain fly for it when a free grocery store bag does the same thing?

[jethro]

This is really not much different than a cordless impact driver and I have personally spent hundreds of hours framing cold formed steel buildings in the rain and wet with a cordless. Would be interested to see what ION says about it.

[PDubs/NH]

Did you figure out what happened to it?

I did not.     I finished the day of fishing, got home and took the battery off to charge and let the auger sit in the garage as I always do.  I put the battery back on in a few hours and was ready for the thing to be dead and to have to call Ion and it fired right up and has operated without a hitch for the past 2 years since then...     

[pmaloney86]

I've used my Ion in the rain without issue.  I make sure to leave the battery on the auger and then just make sure it isn't sitting out in the rain by either leaving it the shanty or bring a tarp and throw a tarp over your sled.

[Roccus]

I thought if you could find it large enough foam pipe insulation (slide it on slide it off) might protect the handles from moisture and being broken. I see the handles possibly being a weak link to the auger. It would have to be pouring with the auger exposed for the electric to be a problem. If I was out in those conditions I would pop the head off and bring it into the shanty. I bought it with the quick disconnect attachment works great so far.

I agree... in that case I have the bag for the auger...and I bought it to protect it during travel...I also bought the quick disconnect.. a spare set of blades and a spare battery and battery bag..I find the stub to be made out of a high carbon steel  prone to rust... I greased ( very thin coat) the flighting collar, stub and the power head shaft with marine grade Teflon based grease...I plan on making one ( stub) that is made from stainless ( I work in a machine shop) to replace the "factory" one..

[meatandmetal]

I agree... in that case I have the bag for the auger...and I bought it to protect it during travel...I also bought the quick disconnect.. a spare set of blades and a spare battery and battery bag..I find the stub to be made out of a high carbon steel  prone to rust... I greased ( very thin coat) the flighting collar, stub and the power head shaft with marine grade Teflon based grease...I plan on making one ( stub) that is made from stainless ( I work in a machine shop) to replace the "factory" one..

Which Ion do you have the "X"?

[Roccus]

Which Ion do you have the "X"?

yes  the XC5

[SALMONEMIA]

Great thread. Good information here. Ion cuts like butter. Only the second time I've used it. Rain had stopped. Lots of water on top. Easy walking. The light is a nice feature when drilling in the dark. All I got was yellow perch today. No rainbow trout unfortunately. Had multiple flags with smelt right under the ice but turns out it was nothing but yellow perch jigs up a bunch of yellow perch also on 2lb pound line. Will venture further next time as I was alone and was a new lake to me.

[Roccus]

Great thread. Good information here. Ion cuts like butter. Only the second time I've used it. Rain had stopped. Lots of water on top. Easy walking. The light is a nice feature when drilling in the dark. All I got was yellow perch today. No rainbow trout unfortunately. Had multiple slides with smells right under the ice but turns out it was nothing but yellow perch jigs up a bunch of yellow perch also on 2lb pound line. Will venture further next time as I was alone and was a new lake to me.

I'm still jealous I spent the day ( when I wasn't cheating on line) servicing heppa filters outside the clean room

[BrookieSlayer99]

Great thread. Good information here. Ion cuts like butter. Only the second time I've used it. Rain had stopped. Lots of water on top. Easy walking. The light is a nice feature when drilling in the dark. All I got was yellow perch today. No rainbow trout unfortunately. Had multiple slides with smells right under the ice but turns out it was nothing but yellow perch jigs up a bunch of yellow perch also on 2lb pound line. Will venture further next time as I was alone and was a new lake to me.

Did you try the weedy flat by the spot you were talking about? I haven't tried that spot before but I know they do get caught over there

[SALMONEMIA]

I must have because it's all I was getting. I'll shoot a pm later with better information. Ice is good. Ion did the trick.

[FSH4FN]

So I had emailed Ion to inquire about rain and using the unit. They mentioned that there's nothing to worry about and the Auger can most definitely be used in the rain, drizzle  and heavy downpours, as well as wet and slushy snow. The unit is self contained. The only thing they said is obviously don't submerge the head unit but otherwise it's made for all weather conditions.

[SALMONEMIA]

Thanks for the information. Appreciate it. Good news.