Northwest Reel Life March 2025 Volume 4 Issue 5 - Flipbook - Page 32
doesn’t limit one’s day of
drilling. With a tankful of
gas, you’ll be able to “run
and gun” with the best of
them. Drilling holes is easy
and fast. The negatives of
gas augers are the weight,
the sound, and the odor.
A variation on the gas
auger is a propane auger.
The only disadvantage I’ve
heard about propane is
that the bottles can freeze
up in colder temperatures.
Gas augers also can have
issues with reliability and
starting and require routine
maintenance to be in top
working order. The noise
of a gas drill can spook fish
as well. I used an electric
drill auger last year, and
while it did the job, I was
frustrated by the slow
drilling and the depleted
battery issue. After finding
a lighter-weight (26-pound)
gas auger on sale recently,
I pulled the trigger. I’m
excited to give it a try,
especially on those 12-18”
thick lakes and reservoirs.
As you can see, there are
several options for drilling
holes in the ice, each with
its own set of advantages
and disadvantages. It
boils down to personal
preference and cost.
Whichever route you go,
stay warm and safe on the
ice!
