Here is a group where you can share your information no matter what level of ice fishing that you think you’re at. Experienced, beginner we have skills built on a knowledge base that is unique … share that knowledge with others. Many beginners look to this site for basic knowledge of rigging presentation, lure selection even reviews on equipment. Remember be safe out on that ice!!! Share, share and share!
John Foro
Dec 17, 2019
dave schuyler
I have a Milw fuel 18 and use both a 5" and 6", both are lasers from hand drills. I use a 5 ah lithium battery and have yet to run out of juice, most often after all day of drilling I still have 2 bars of power left. Two things to look at for electric drills, lithium batteries, and torque of the drill. General rule is you want a minimum of 750 in. # of torque, Milw fuel has about 1200. Depending on how quickly I find fish, I may drill 30 to 90 holes on an outing. Good fishing and be safe
Dec 18, 2019
Allen Morgan
You want a hammer drill with a 1/2" chuck, a battery with as many amp/hours as you can afford, and as mentioned, at least 750 in/lbs of torque. Don't use the hammer setting, leave on Drill, setting #1. I have a buddy that uses as Milwaukee m18 hammer drill. He can drill as many holes as he wants, all day.
You might want to go Youtube and watch some head-to-head videos on drills and/or augers. Some augers are better at different things. Some drills are cheaper, but have a "thermal cutoff" that kills the drill until it cools down. This really doesn't help if you're drilling 40 - 50 holes a day, but if you're only drilling a few, then fishing, then moving, then drilling a few more, it's no big deal.
I'm still getting started with ice fishing. I've been using an Eskimo 8" hand auger. Lots of effort in that one. I've been thinking about a drill. I just bought a HT 6" hand auger. I'll start there. Smaller augers are easier on the drills, from what I hear.
Since I typically only drill two holes, getting a cheaper drill with a thermal cutoff is probably what I'm going to do.
Dec 19, 2019