icegator update

[AL PALMER]

hI ALL, iM LOOKING TO BUY A 8IN STRIKEMASTER HAND AUGER BUT AM HOLDING OFF UNTILL I CAN GET MORE INFO ON THE ICEGATOR. DONT WANT TO BUY A 8IN TILL I KNOW FOR SURE THAT A 8IN GATOR WILL SOON BE ON THE MARKET.ANY UPDATED INFO ON THE GATOR, AND I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR SOME PROS AND CONS ON THE GATOR. THANKS FOR ANY REPLIES

[IceholeFisherman]

I contacted Icegator and a 8 inch modal  is in development. No time frame given as they want to do it right and not rush into it. Not looking like this season but MAYBE next. It appears any hand auger with the extendable handle will work. My older Mora with the folding handle will not.

[jbird68]

I also sent an email to Icegator. I bought a 7" hand auger last year and wanted to know why they limited the use of the Icegator to a 6" auger. This is what I got in response:

"Thanks Jay for your interest in the icegator.
 
In electric ice auger drives its all about amps/volts StrikeMaster uses a one 12volt battery and there auger only turns at 150 rpms during the cut this translate into 1/2" of ice being cut per second. consequently there not able to get very many holes before the battery dies.  This is why electric is not very popular.  The Icegator runs on two 12volt batteries for 24volt. it turns at 420 rpms during the cut this translate into 5" of being cut per second. because it cuts so fast 30 holes trough 3 feet of ice is now possible your simply not running the unit very long. 
 
On both StrikeMaster and the Icegator. Going from a 6" auger to a 8" auger increases amps drastically and drains the battery faster. To run the Icgator with the 8" drill bit for more then two holes through the 3 feet of ice without letting it cool for 10 min. will destroy it.  This is why we only run this unit on a 6" bit.  Of course a 8" model is being tested but will not be available for a couple of years. Keep in mind there is no gas or electric ice auger companies out there, other then use, that even comes close to the 5" per second the Icegator cuts at.  And the 8" will have to do the same thing before were satified Here. Hope this answers your questions if not feel free to call me.
 
again thanks for your interest, and have a good day!"

[AL PALMER]

 THANKS FOR THE REPLIES GUYS. SO IF 6IN IS THE MAX I CAN GET IN THE GATOR THEN MY QUESTION IS,HOW BIG OF A FISH CAN I GET THROUGH A 6IN HOLE? I KNOW PANNIES SHOULD BE NO PROBLEM BUT WHAT ABOUT A NICE SIZE EYE OR 10 POUND PIKE.PLEASE GIVE SOME FEED BACK GUYS,THANKS

[nd.walleye]

Depends on the norm for your area - around here most everything can get through an 8 incher - 6 is probably pushing it if your shooting for the bigger walleyes or the northern in general - and i've seen a 10in not fit a northern - so thats a hard one to answer.

[princecraft]

I saw a 25 lb northern brought through a 6 inch hole, so I know a 10 pounder would have no problem.

[Master Angler]

A 6 inch hole will fit big walleye and pike 10-25lbs, but the hardest part will be to get them turned to come through the hole which may take time playing with them and a greater potential to loose them.  As for a pike not fitting through a 10 inch hole nd.walleye, as many times as I hear that I say bull****, I've seen a 50lb laker come through a 10 inch hole.  A pike would have to have a girth over 30 inches to not fit.

[nd.walleye]

I wasn't handling the fish - all i know is that his face filled the hole and the guy with his hand down the whole was having a hell of a time - perhaps the fish wasn't cooperating then? Who knows. I use ten inch holes only because thats the only auger they had on the shelf when i got it 2 years ago. Also - its easy to lose small fish in a big hole too - more room to thrash around in the hole v.s. sliding up nice and easy in a 6" (once you get them in that is - agreed its harder to get them in a 6")

[Sven936]

When I have my young children about, I love 6" holes.   Feel a lot safer...    However, I do like 10" holes when site fishing or even using my sonar.  Just gives a little more room.     I have caught a lot of fish through a 6" hole...

[princecraft]

Anybody out there with any feedback with the icegator yet?  It is a might early but I thought maybe someone has been using them and would give some feedback, good or bad.  It doesn't look like they have any plans on a IS discount or we would have seen it by now.  Oh well!