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Some folks just hate making the long drive to lake of the woods with an auger extension....

A little explanation for the non northern climate folks.

These are web photos, not mine.

This is a gasoline engine powered ice auger



this is how you use it



It's a big gas powered drill for boring holes through the ice on frozen lakes so You can fish through the hole.

There are many engine types and sizes, 2 stroke gas engines of varying horse power, liquid propane powered and electric powered.

There are many sizes you can choose from for the drill itself, everything from 4" on up to 10" usually being the largest hole diameter.

These are auger extensions.



Late in the winter the ice can actually get so thick that your stock ice auger bit cannot drill all the way through the ice, so you have to put an extension on the auger shaft to drill through the really thick ice.


White bear and I get the biggest kick out of the ever popular winter fishing question "should I bring an auger extension?"

Lake of the woods MN is a border lake the US shares with Canada. That being said it is obviously a cold climate lake and the ice does get very thick.

We post on another forum specifically dealing with Lake of the woods and we always laugh about the most popular question "will I need to bring an extension?"

These are people that are driving 6 or more hours to fish lake of the woods and they want to know if it's worth bringing this little 10" long piece of pipe to be certain they can reach through the ice with the auger.

ND, does the ice get thicker on the top or the bottom? maybe you don't need the extension if you can drill from both sides.

I've always found that funny too! Most of the time the truck and often times trailer is loaded down with everything you would ever need and then some for a weekend of ice fishing.

Snowmobiles/wheelers, portable fish houses, sleds, auger, cookstoves, coolers, beverages, food, chairs, gear etc. but "geez do I really need to bring this thing that I could slip in the pocket behind my drivers seat???

I'm so crazy, I keep mine in the truck year round... I know its bringing down my mpg, but......

You're so CLAZY.

We've had winters that require auger extensions too.

Weatherman lied we never made it to zero today. minus 3 right now.

I saw +4 at one point today.

You know you're aclamated to the weather when you can go for a 2 block walk in a hoodie in +2 temps and think it's not too bad out.

My happines has improved greatly since I started using my extension.

4

Hey Tom, this is the kind of snow removal equipment you need to buy when you get to be my age.

She's all done Bushy!!! Now I have a place to go out and tinker.

It is Muffy, I'm at mom and dads and I was looking at some of my old pics and thought I would post some.

Hard to believe how good the road was on the way into camp this year compared to last year.







And have to post this one again, just because.

That would work Uncle D. My neighbor has that, which means I don't need it.

Well I'm in for the night, -18 and dropping. We did some work on the track machine (just tinkering) and my ice auger that was last used as a dirt and rock auger.

Yeah that needed some work.

Man up.

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Dusty, How does that rig handle? Neighbors had one just like it and it worked fine except that it had no ability to steer on the slightest bit of snow pack or ice. I have an X540 I think it is. And it would be nice to have a blower on it but the steering issue puts me off.

brent,

neighbor guy had to get some ballast for his. It doesn't go up hill very well with the "lawn" type tires. Chains helped some.

I'm not quite sure Brent, we have not had enough snow to use it yet.

This one gets 'er done. 4x4 Kubota.



4

I would be seriously interested to know how it works if you get a chance this winter. We are getting our first real snow of the season.

My JD has some fairly well lugged tires and I have chains for the rear, but I can't find chains for the front. Might be able to make some out of 15" passenger car tires.

I think the 4x4 Kubota is probably the way to go, but I'm a cheap/poor bastard.