I have an 8" Mora Ice auger, I'm taking it with me next week to do some ice fishing on my winter camping trip in the Ely area. Is this the proper tool I need to get through the thickness of ice that I'm going to find up there?

Will probably do the job if the blades are sharp, but I would consider finding a gas auger. I was up on Superior and they had 16 inches of ice. I would think it would be thicker up north , but maybe not. If you are planning to drill a lot of holes and moving around often I would rent a power auger.

Should be functional, just a lot of work. StrikeMaster also makes a 12" handle extension for really thick ice, but you shouldn't need that now I don't think.

Gas or hand will depend on just where around Ely you will be fishing. If you decide on a gas auger just make sure you are NOT in a non-motor area. A smaller hole size will drill with less effort. I've used a six inch hole with no problem, just depends on what you are targeting.

Burntside Lake near Ely has about 17-18 inches of ice, some smaller lakes may have a bit more.
The Mora 8" auger should work just fine if it's sharp.

With my StrikeMaster Lazer 7" hand auger, I figure on cranking 2 revolutions of the handle per inch of ice. So, I'll enjoy using it up until there's more than 12-16" of ice. Still doable, just not as enjoyable...

you will be find,drilled over a dozen holes with one many times. When you have slush,that's when you get into problems. Also the angle of the blade and it should be super sharp as mentioned. Take the allen wrench with you and shims or a little tin foil will do in the pinch. It seems the duller it gets the more you have to change the angle.

I picked up one of those pocket sharpeners with carbide, so I can sharpen in the field. I also will use you angle changing tip...

Take turns! Odds are you will try to out do each other.

quote GreatBigCubsFan: "I picked up one of those pocket sharpeners with carbide, so I can sharpen in the field. I also will use you angle changing tip..."

Be careful with those, if you put an edge on the blade it will destroy it, and you wont be able to drill through 2 inches of ice. i know this from a bad experience, it looked like I was using a spyrograph out there :-0

Oh, great now you got me nervous. I've got to go by Gander and pick up a spare set.

Just make sure the blades are sharp. I fished with some buddys this weekend and they ended up drilling with my 8" hand auger because I was punching holes faster than their power auger (which must have been dull, though mine was a Nils)

Careful with the sharpener,those blades are awfully sharp.

quote Arlo Pankook: "Take turns! Odds are you will try to out do each other."

Ha. nice

I have an 8" lazer augar. I would highly recommend that augur. Blades stay sharp and they drill through the holes quickly!

I'm investing in a NILS Auger. They cut like 1" per turn with very little effort. Best $120 you will ever spend.

quote DFresh: "I'm investing in a NILS Auger. They cut like 1" per turn with very little effort. Best $120 you will ever spend. "

I love mine - I have two now the 4.5" and the 8" - I recommend them to anybody looking to buy a new hand auger. Any sharp auger works but the Nils is definately the cream of the crop. I've let 3 guys use my 8"er in the last year. One guy bought one, the other two said they are going to in the near future.

quote GreatBigCubsFan: "Oh, great now you got me nervous. I've got to go by Gander and pick up a spare set."

This is by far the best option. Especially as you are thinking about it now. If you end up not doing it, and then the blades get wrecked or dull and no replacement, in the middle of the bush...well you will be one upset dude.

Moonman.

Yup. No matter what auger you use. Carry an extra set of blades on big trip. It doesn't take much dull any set of blades enough to make the trip miserable.

quote schollmeier: "

quote DFresh: "I'm investing in a NILS Auger. They cut like 1" per turn with very little effort. Best $120 you will ever spend. "

I love mine - I have two now the 4.5" and the 8" - I recommend them to anybody looking to buy a new hand auger. Any sharp auger works but the Nils is definately the cream of the crop. I've let 3 guys use my 8"er in the last year. One guy bought one, the other two said they are going to in the near future."

Nothing touches a nils,own a 8 inch,thought of also getting a 6 inch,but the 8 inch is so easy I ask my self why?
Do you know you are cutting ice at all with the 4.5 inch? I will have to retime me but I thought it was like 1 to just under 1.5 seconds/inch to cut a hole in 26 inches of ice. That pretty good for a 62 year old.

I am on the second year with light to moderate use.Just wonder how long before I need to sharpen it? Thought also of buying a spare blade head,but they cost $79 to $95 to replace.

That's what they are made for...just be sure to have sharp blades and tighten those screws that hold the blade on...losing one of those is a real bummer and trip wrecker! You won't need an extension.

quote DFresh: "I'm investing in a NILS Auger. They cut like 1" per turn with very little effort. Best $120 you will ever spend. "

By far the best. I don't even bother with my power auger anymore. By the time I get it started the nills will have drilled two holes.

Starting to sound like fishingminnesota around here.

Okay, Marcum or Vexilar? and, please don't answer that.

quote schweady: "Starting to sound like fishingminnesota around here.


Okay, Marcum or Vexilar? and, please don't answer that.
"

Well my Marcum drills holes faster but my Vexilar drills more holes on a single charge...

We did get a bit sidetracked from the OPs question, though I think it is answered now

I went to Gander and Farm and Fleet today and they are all sold out. I hope I can find some on the way up.

Love my Strikemaster! Love my Marcum!
I'll be on the ice tomorrow!

quote GreatBigCubsFan: "I went to Gander and Farm and Fleet today and they are all sold out. I hope I can find some on the way up."

I found some at my local bait shop. I'm going use my old ones and see how that goes 1st.

Nothing will touch a Nils in speed for drilling a hole.
I have an 8 inch with an electric powerhead, and have drilled through 22 inches of ice in about 10 seconds.

quote The Great Outdoors: "Nothing will touch a Nils in speed for drilling a hole.
I have an 8 inch with an electric powerhead, and have drilled through 22 inches of ice in about 10 seconds."

I believe it.

cubbie-
Get new blades, and carry a spare set. Don't try to sharpen them yourself; it won't work. Go to a mom and pop bait store and see if they have used auger blades (I don't think Gander will have it, but you could check). You trade in your old ones and get freshly sharpened, good-as-new blades. make a few calls, it saves you a bunch of dough. Otherwise, the Mora works fine, even if it isn't the "best." WIth sharp blades it goes pretty quick.

quote lundojam: "cubbie-
Get new blades, and carry a spare set. Don't try to sharpen them yourself; it won't work. Go to a mom and pop bait store and see if they have used auger blades (I don't think Gander will have it, but you could check). You trade in your old ones and get freshly sharpened, good-as-new blades. make a few calls, it saves you a bunch of dough. Otherwise, the Mora works fine, even if it isn't the "best." WIth sharp blades it goes pretty quick."

No doubt. Nothing is more key than sharp blades. Especially on a hand auger.

quote GreatBigCubsFan: "I went to Gander and Farm and Fleet today and they are all sold out. I hope I can find some on the way up."

You can check with Vados Bait shop if they dont have it they can usually tell you where to go to get it .

Never been to BWCA in the winter but when Lake of the Woods gets 30 something inches ice I can imagine those lakes must get that as well. Hand auger would be great but I don't think the shafts are long enough to handle those thicknesses? Do they make extensions for hand augers? Issues to think about is carrying gas and the weight of a gas auger I would think. Let us know how it does work in the winter time?.

Never had a problem with the hand augar even up to about or close to 36 inches,you just finish drilling on your knees.

Give the guys at Fish Lake Bait in Harris, MN a call. FLB is a real, good old fashioned bait store. It's about 30 minutes or so north of the twin cities, 100 feet of of I-35. They wholesale live bait to all the area shops and are generally good guys.

nils.