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A Bass Fisherman's Guide

A fishing blog about everything you need to know about bass fishing.

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  • 2021 Best Ice Fishing Boots – Our Top 12 (updated Nov. 2021)
  • The Best Ice Fishing Gloves 2021 – My Top 12
  • Best Smartwatch For Fishing & Hunting 2021 – My Top Picks

Ice Fishing Gear

The Best Ice Fishing Reel 2021 – My Top 12 Picks (Updated Nov. 2021)

November 29, 2021 By Wes Leave a Comment

best ice fishing reel

There is no doubt about it ice fishing is awesome!

However, all that fun and excitement that ice fishing brings comes to a screeching halt if you don’t have the right equipment.

One such vital piece of equipment is a good ice fishing reel.

A faulty reel not only will cost you some fish, but it will definitely take the joy out of ice fishing.

In this post, we will present some of the best reels for ice fishing. In fact, we will present our top 12 options.

So let’s get to it.

[Read more…] about The Best Ice Fishing Reel 2021 – My Top 12 Picks (Updated Nov. 2021)

Filed Under: Best Fishing Gear, Fishing Reels, Ice Fishing Gear, Tackle

The Best Underwater Camera For Ice Fishing 2021 – My Top 4

November 28, 2021 By Wes Leave a Comment

BEST UNDERWATER FISHING CAMERA FOR ICE FISHING

Are you looking for the best underwater camera for ice fishing?

Well you have come to the right place.

Technology has come a long way.

When I was growing up, ice fishing included  a good ice auger, an ice rod, a handful of some good lures and a good reel. If the fish weren’t biting, it meant it was time to move on to another spot.

Nowadays, technology has changed everything. With the help of fish finders and underwater cameras you can pinpoint exactly where the fish are and see with your own eyes how they react to your bait.

So the question remains: What is the best ice fishing camera? In this post, we are going to take a look at what we consider to be the top 3 best underwater cameras for ice fishing.

Enjoy!

[Read more…] about The Best Underwater Camera For Ice Fishing 2021 – My Top 4

Filed Under: Ice Fishing Gear

What Is The Best Cordless Drill For An Ice Auger? – My Top 3

November 7, 2021 By Wes Leave a Comment

Best cordless drill for ice auger

Are you looking for the best cordless drill for an ice auger?

Many ice fishermen are turning their favorite hand auger into a powered auger using an electric or cordless drill.

This is not only a very efficient way to break the ice, but it also can be much more affordable than buying an expensive electric auger that you will only use a few times throughout the year.

In this post, we are going to show you how you can turn your drill into an ice auger and we are going to talk about some important features to consider when searching for the best drill.

Let’s begin…

Best cordless drill for ice auger

What is the best cordless drill for an ice auger?

Here is a quick preview of our top 3 options:

  • DEWALT 20V MAX XR
  • Bosch HDS181A-02 18V Lithium-Ion
  • Milwaukee M18

Before we take a closer look at each model mentioned above, let’s first talk about how to turn your drill into an ice auger.

How To Turn Your Drill Into An Ice Auger

Choose a good adapter. The first step is to choose a good adapter. The adapter basically allows you to connect your drill to any hand auger of your choice.

Most adapters are pretty straightforward and easy to use, but here are two of our favorites.

Pictured above is the Clam Drill Auger Conversion Kit.

This is a great adapter to connect your auger to your drill. What I like most about this particular model is the handlebars.

These handlebars give you the ability to put some weight on the auger as it drills, helping it to work more efficiently and preventing the drill from entering the water if you break through the ice suddenly.

Learn more about how to use it in the following video:

Another great option is the Ice Auger Cordless Drill Adapter.

This is as simple as you can get. It is simply an aluminum adapter has an1/2 or 1/4 inch hole for a M6*25 Wing Bolts

See how to put it together and more importantly, in action in the following video:

Choose A Good Blade. Now that we have selected a good adapter, let’s talk about blades.

One of the most popular questions people have when converting their drill into an ice auger is: Which blade is better, mora or lazer?

I would recommend going with a lazer blade.

They tend to cut the ice more easily, causing less stress on your drill.

Why is this important?

Not only can this affect the overall life of your drill, but it can affect your battery life as well. The more efficiently your drill can go through the ice, the less battery you will consume and thus the more holes you will be able to drill.

Once such blade I would recommend is the Strike Master Ice Augers Lazer Hand Auger.

This model is available in blade sizes ranging from 5 to 8 inches. The handle can be easily removed to add either of the aforementioned adapters. It is equipped with Lazer blades that will help you to cut through ice like a butter knife cuts through butter.

Ok, so now that we have selected the adapter, as well as the blade, it is time to answer:

What is the best cordless drill for an ice auger?

DEWALT 20V MAX XR Hammer Drill

Features:

  • 1/2 cordless drill
  • Extended battery life – XRP batteries
  • 8.4 inches long
  • 4.7 pounds
  • 3 mode LED lighting
  • 20 Volts

The first drill to make our list of the best cordless drill for an ice auger is the DEWALT 20V MAX XR Hammer Drill.

This is a 1/2 inch cordless drill that would fit either of the adapters mentioned above.

The reason I would recommend this drill is the battery life.

Simply put, the more battery life you have, the more holes you are going to drill. This is especially important when fishing for small fish like panfish.

More holes equal more fish. In fact, according to their website, it can run 2.8 times more. While power is not needed for a cordless drill ice auger, this is a powerful beast!

In addition, the LED work light comes in handy when ice fishing through the early morning or late at night.

Bosch Lithium-Ion 1/2″ Compact Hammer Drill

Features:

  • 1/2 cordless drill
  • Good Battery Life
  • Length: 7.6 inches
  • Weight: 3.6 pounds
  • LED worklight
  • 18 Volts
  • Weight: 3 lbs
  • Torque (Inch lbs.): 600-Inch lbs.

The next on our list is the Bosch Lithium-Ion 1/2″ Compact Hammer Drill.

There are 3 features that I think make the Bosch compact hammer drill option.

The first feature is the weight. This is a super lightweight cordless drill only weighing in at a little over 3 pounds.

If you combine that with an average hand auger, you will have a powered auger for under 10 pounds!

It also is made with durable housing. Let’s face it, ice fishing in the cold weather isn’t the best situation for our tools. In order for them to last the long haul, we need them to be made from durable materials.

Additionally, once again, while torque isn’t too important it does have some nice specs. Pumping out 600-Inch-Lbs. of torque

Lastly, battery life. This is another great option that has a good battery life when out on the water.

Milwaukee M18 

best cordless drill for ice auger

Features:

  • 1/2 inch cordless drill
  • Good Battery Life
  • Brushless motor
  • LED worklight
  • 500 in/lbs of torque
  • 18 Volts
  • 2.8 pounds

To conclude our list of the best cordless drill for an ice auger, we are going to take a closer look at the Milwaukee M18.

As we have stressed in this post, battery life and overall weight are so important when choosing a good drill.

The great thing about this drill is that it comes with a lithium-ion battery. A lithium-ion battery is going to be much lighter than others on the market.

In addition, because the motor is a brushless motor, the Milwaukee M18 is designed to run twice as long as a brushed motor with the same battery.

As we mentioned earlier, the lithium-ion batter helps to keep it relatively lightweight. In fact, the M18 only weighs 2.8 pounds.

Combine it with your favorite hand auger, you will have an extremely lightweight ice cutting machine.

Final Thoughts…

What is the best cordless drill for an ice auger?

Well, in this post we explained how to attach your drill to make an ice auger that is efficient, lightweight, and most importantly is an affordable option.

We also discussed 3 of the top options on the market.

We chose these options based on three characteristics; they have great battery life, they are super lightweight and they are built to last.

What cordless drill do you use on your auger? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

Filed Under: Crappie Fishing, Ice Fishing Gear, Musky, Musky Fishing, Trout Fishing, Walleye Fishing

The Best Ice Fishing Gloves 2021 – My Top 12

November 6, 2021 By Wes Leave a Comment

best ice fishing gloves

Some of the best fishing is when the weather is crazy. In fact, I like to think of it this way, the crazier the weather, the crazier the fish.

That can even be said of ice fishing.

However, as fishermen, we need to protect ourselves from the elements. We all know that keeping warm while on the ice is essential to have a good time.

Therefore, let’s talk about some of the best ice fishing gloves on the market. We will also look at some of the best cold weather fishing gloves for when fishing off the ice.

[Read more…] about The Best Ice Fishing Gloves 2021 – My Top 12

Filed Under: Ice Fishing Gear

2021 Best Ice Fishing Boots – Our Top 12 (updated Nov. 2021)

November 6, 2021 By Wes Leave a Comment

BEST ICE FISHING BOOTS
BEST ICE FISHING BOOTS

Ice fishing, fun.

Ice fishing for Bass, more fun.

Ice fishing for Bass with friends, amazing.

Ice fishing with cold feet, no fun.

Never allow cold, damp feet to ruin a good day of fishing on the ice again! In this post, we will discuss some of the best ice fishing boots that money can buy.

[Read more…] about 2021 Best Ice Fishing Boots – Our Top 12 (updated Nov. 2021)

Filed Under: Best Fishing Gear, Fishing Apparel, Ice Fishing Gear

Can You Use A Baitcasting Reel For Ice Fishing?

November 6, 2021 By Wes Leave a Comment

can you use a baitcasting reel for ice fishing

With ice fishing season upon us, no doubt you have found yourself thinking: Can’t I just slap a baitcasting reel on my ice rod and start fishing? Are there any advantages to choosing a baitcaster over a spinning reel? What are the pros and cons of fishing with such a setup?

Well…you asked it, so let’s talk about it.

can you use a baitcasting reel for ice fishing

[Read more…] about Can You Use A Baitcasting Reel For Ice Fishing?

Filed Under: Baitcasting Reels, Bass Fishing Tips, Beginner Tips, Ice Fishing Gear

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