New drill ‘augers’ well for ice fishers

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 25/11/2017 (2843 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Christmas came early for me this year when my new ION X ice auger showed up on my doorstep this past week.

Over the past three years, I have seen electric ice augers in operation on a number of ice-fishing trips and I have always been totally impressed by the performance. One of the most compelling reasons for me to get an electric auger, though, was transportation problems caused by gas augers. I have an SUV, which means in the past, I had to dissemble the auger and store the power head upright so gas wouldn’t spill inside my vehicle. Unfortunately, no matter what I did, it still left a lingering smell in my vehicle. Those days are long gone!

When Ardisam (a Wisconsin company) came out with the new ION X last year, I knew I had to have one. The original ION had a three-amp battery, which, while dependable, had some anglers concerned they would run out of charge on cold day with plenty of drilling. That has all changed.

The ION X features a new single-piece cast-bottom design as well as a five-amp-hour XC5 lithium ion battery. The new cast-bottom design change is almost a miracle in itself. It creates perfectly even blade engagement and results in unbelievably smooth drilling, redrilling and breakthrough. Not only that, but you can drill up to 41 metres of ice per charge with the all-new XC5, a five-amp-hour battery with over 60 per cent more capacity than previous ION batteries.

As I got older, the old, heavy gas drills became more of a challenge. They can also be dangerous to carry while the motor is running. At just under 22 pounds, the ION X is lightweight and easy to carry. Bicycle-style handlebars put your hands in the optimal drilling position and take the work out of ice drilling, especially with the new centre cast bottom.

My ION X also has a really cool feature: a reverse button which allows you to flush the slush back down through the hole you’ve drilled. Simply place your auger into the hole and place the blades below the ice, then press and hold the reverse button for 15-20 seconds to flush your hole clean.

This takes the work out of dealing with slush in your portable ice tent or shack, plus there is no gas smell when you have your tent set up and you need to drill a new hole.

While not cheap, these augers are built to last and will make your ice-fishing season more enjoyable.

Ice season has begun

Ice is rapidly forming on many of our lakes, rivers and reservoirs, and some of the fishing reports have been good. Grand Rapids has 10 centimetres of ice, and anglers are walking out carefully from shore. The walleye fishing there has been excellent.

It’s also at this time of year that people do incredibly dumb things like the guy who drove his jeep on the ice on the Red River when there was just over 10 centimetres of ice this past week. Other anglers who were out there said he just made it off the ice as it broke behind him. I can remember a time when I drove out on the Red with some friends when there was the recommended 30.5 centimetres of ice. As we ventured from shore, I could see the ice moving in waves towards shore. That was the last time I would ever consider that again. Common sense and being prepared are key at this time of year. My FXR survival suit has flotation-assistance technology, which will keep me afloat in case of breakthrough. Always have ice picks in your pocket as well. When walking out, go with a partner and bring along a rope.

Angler’s notes

The fishing community in Manitoba this year lost two of its best ambassadors. David Hagberg passed away May 6, and his good friend Jerry McKay followed on Nov. 10.

For many years, the two were almost inseparable, frequenting fishing tournaments and working sports shows. They were also very generous with their time, volunteering every year as guides in our Fish Winnipeg corporate fundraiser. I have some great memories of our times together in the tackle department at United Army Surplus back in the 1980s and ’90s. They will be missed.

dlamont46@gmail.com