Wild Northerner Magazine Winter 2016/17 | Page 15

The manual auger, which was also in that sled, was fine. No damage. It was ready to go and gave us opportunities to fish for the day. LOL, we drilled four holes before my friend gave the manual auger the middle finger and announced he was done with it.

A few winters ago, I watched another friend buzz through ice with a six-inch manual auger. He did so with minimal effort and when he was done, he wasn’t sweating and puking like an army drill sergeant just worked him over. I tried this six-inch auger and produced the same effect.

Did I change? No. I went through another winter cutting holes with my eight-inch manual auger.

I broke down last season and picked up a cheaper, six-inch auger, and it was on sale for half off. It was a Nordic model and it was $40.

I took it out numerous times and it performed, albeit under good conditions. It made short work of four inch ice in late December and early January. No real test.

We never really got good ice last winter until mid-March. The most ice I went through last season was about 14 inches, again not a strong indicator of how good this little auger can be. I will be using it and the eight-inch auger everyone hates again this season.

We shall see if we get thick ice and finally find out the true capabilities of the six-inch, $40 auger. I might try attaching it to a drill. One buddy does this and it works well unless the batteries freeze up, or they are brought along, but were not charged!

I know one thing: regardless of auger, there will be some fish, some swearing and a lot of fun again this winter. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I hope it goes well for all of you chasing fish through the ice this winter.