Ice fishing setups

[tipper]

Haven't been ice fishing in a lot of years but hoping to get some time off work at some point this winter and getting back into it.
Can anyone recommend a good 4 person tent and a decent heater? Maybe a battery powered auger if they're any good?
Thanks

[Firstblood]

ICE FISSSSHIIN, I like ice fishin...... the heater game is dominated by mr buddy heaters, for a 4 person tent you dont need a big one, for convenience and cost I refill the 1lbs bottles. As for huts, Costco makes a decent hut that fits 4, its basic and not insulated but gets the job done without issue. Now if you want to get into it you can get a big ass insulated tent and a bigger buddy hooked up to a 10-20lbs bottle and live out there for days like me with a couple buddies. No lets talk about augers eh, there are a few good dedicated battery augers but they are very expensive unless you are going to use it a ton. I use a milwaukee M18 drill, and a K-drill auger but you can use any good 18-20v drill and get a conversion for most hand augers but google yourself up a safety for it so the auger doesnt slip the chuck and deep six itself. Using the drill combo and the two batteries (5amp/h) I can drill 100 holes through 12'' of ice. If you have any questions about ice fishing you can send me a message, its an addiction.

[Bustercluck]

I have the big insulated cabelas tent. It looks like a rectangle, twice as long one way as the other. I’m pretty happy with it so far. A drill is essential, especially for putting anchors in. I have two buddy heaters, not sure on the models. And two five pound propane bottles, these are fairly expensive, but way cheaper than buying one pounders.

I have a two stroke Eskimo auger. I haven’t had it too long, so I can’t comment on quality, it does work as good as anything else and way better than drilling by hand. Honestly, if it were 12” of ice, I’d probably just pack a hand auger. Before I got the gas auger, I was drilling multiple holes through 3feet of ice every time I went out.

[Bustercluck]

The nice thing about electric or hand augers is drilling holes inside your tent after it’s set up. You’re not smelling two stroke smoke all day. If you set up for a few days and you have to drill new holes every day, you’ll wish you had a electric or hand auger.

[tigrr]

My 6 man tent that works great for 2 people. Except for lake trout fishing where we need to be 50 feet apart so no line tangles. I also bought the 2 stroke 8" Eskimo ice auger. Premium gas starts every time. Rarely set up the tent due to slush on top of the ice. It gets frozen in and is a pain to chip out and dry later. 40 to 60 days on the ice.

https://i.postimg.cc/vZkbyzgq/IMG-0854.jpg (https://postimg.cc/Hrwf4btX)

[exv]

X2 for the electric drill on a hand auger. I like this because its light and compact and I commute to some lakes via snowmobile. Sure beats cutting holes with a chainsaw .. LOL

Haven't picked up a tent .. maybe this year but doubtful.

[skibum]

My 6 man tent that works great for 2 people. Except for lake trout fishing where we need to be 50 feet apart so no line tangles. I also bought the 2 stroke 8" Eskimo ice auger. Premium gas starts every time. Rarely set up the tent due to slush on top of the ice. It gets frozen in and is a pain to chip out and dry later. 40 to 60 days on the ice.

Funny this looks exactly like my set-up down to the sled and auger - except for the yard sale of crap that my kids leave around where we are fishing.

Personally, next time I might go with a smaller tent for mobility - I got the six man because I have three kids, but they really don't spend much time inside of it out on the ice.

[warnniklz]

Don't use an impact on your auger...
https://scontent.fyyc3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/12963643_10156772134895387_3843032554596628458_n.j pg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=2&_nc_sid=cdbe9c&_nc_ohc=IXe1oW-uisIAX8J34V9&_nc_ht=scontent.fyyc3-1.fna&oh=1e4515c5d2c7d54ac1bb62b196fee0cc&oe=5FD4E3DC

She'll peel like a cocktail garnish
https://scontent.fyyc3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/10399829_10156772135185387_8350139728097944300_n.j pg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=2&_nc_sid=cdbe9c&_nc_ohc=QGUtS5_oE4UAX_zrYM8&_nc_ht=scontent.fyyc3-1.fna&oh=421e7a3d9d168b27d4c9d79cf3d8c837&oe=5FD3847E

Luckily the skrats helped us out
https://scontent.fyyc3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/12670765_10156772135610387_8400195627485720405_n.j pg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=2&_nc_sid=cdbe9c&_nc_ohc=PwSCKyiZIpUAX_jweQE&_nc_ht=scontent.fyyc3-1.fna&oh=021e597d0353f1ef49a67293bb3eaea6&oe=5FD45830

I'm not one to bring a lot ice fishing. Be cold like a man, pop-up tents always seem to have some broken pole, gas auger... who wants to pack that weight.
https://scontent.fyyc3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/12489297_10156407284405387_2860636704719080639_o.j pg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=2&_nc_sid=cdbe9c&_nc_ohc=FJPull6xki4AX_CKkrn&_nc_ht=scontent.fyyc3-1.fna&oh=527abb5f11b0d0d18d77fb0b87f8a160&oe=5FD42E16


Although when friends pack along gas augers and popups... I don't complain.

[BRvalley]

what is the OP's budget? lol....can make this as fancy or as simple as you like....haven't even mentioned electronics yet!

For tents you have flip over sled style, or pop up tent style, the flip overs are heavy and a bitch to hand pull if you don't have a snowmobile

the pop up hub style, I like the wide bottom models, I really think you appreciate the extra room....I am a big fan of eskimo products, but otter and clam are good as well, pretty sure the cabelas is just rebranded from one of the big 3 and they all go on sale pretty soon before christmas

I prefer gas augers myself, don't mind the extra weight but if you're not regularly on thick ice, or doing hike in spots, a hand auger is plenty good, just take care of the blades.....I did get to use the strike master electric and it is certainly lighter and I thought a bit slower compared to gas but not by much....if you only do day trips or have power source electric are great, but also more expensive

[tipper]

Thanks guys for all the great advice!!
I think i'll try and find that adapter piece for the auger and and use the Makita drill.

The flip over sled style tents sounds like something I need since i'll always have the tundra to pull it around.

[r106]

As for augers i have no complaints using my hand auger but i rarely drill more than 18"

[XPEIer]

You can also splurge and buy a Clam drill mount, which takes your cordless drill and puts a 2 handle and throttle system on it, so it is easier to control. One thing that I do (have not seen another) is I use an old plastic tool box from Canadian Tire to put my gear in. I think it is about 22" long so the rods fit with a bit of a bend in the tip, keeps everything safe and secure and out of the weather, dont have to worry if you tip your sled over. I have a separate seat so dont need the bucket.

XPEIER

[islandhunter]

I started using an underwater camera from Amazon last year. Sure makes things more interesting!! Especially trying to keep the kids entertained.

[tipper]

Thanks guy! I got a new strikemaster auger and the clam drillplate put together. Looks like it should work great!

[Bigdoggdon]

#1 Auger K-Drill 8" on Milwaukie M18 Cordless Drill, works great through ice up to 30" but has difficulty with ice that has a slushy layer in it.
#2 Auger 8" Fin-Bore III hand auger, was my primary auger for years works great through ice up to 30". Had trouble finding replacement blades for it and had to ship blades to Michigan for sharpening.
#3 Auger 6" Swede-Bore, only used a couple of time as a backup when my Fin-Bore blades were off being sharpened.

Tent - Kingfisher 4 person, much like pup tents I don't know how they can justify calling it a 4 person, It's great for 2 people though, tall enough to stand up in.

Rods - umm I have 15. I prefer rods that are 30-33" for small trout (Brookies, Rainbows, ect.) 33-36" for larger fish (ling, lakers)
Normal setup to trout use a 3-4" spoon without the hook as a flasher and a hand tied 18-20" leader down to a #2 or #4 red gamagatsu octopus hook. I use shrimp for bait. I buy the $10 bags of frozen shrimp at Walmart, I tear a shrimp in half and thread onto the hook so that the eye of the red hook looks like the eye of the shrimp. Fish in 4-8 feet of water for brookies and 8-12 for rainbows I raise the flasher to the surface and let it drop, it flips and zig-zags down to a rest, repeat every minute or so unless I see a fish.
For ling and lakers I use a 4" Williams Wabbler and jig in deep water 80-100 feet