How to choose an ice screw for winter fishing: options, best models, prices in 2023

Every fisherman who loves
winter fishing selects tackle and all related equipment for his own needs. Choosing a suitable fishing drill is not easy, and this is due to a large number of factors: the thickness of the ice in the reservoir (power, shape and sharpness of the cutting part), the estimated size of the specimens caught (and therefore the required hole diameter – the size of the auger), the distance to the chosen place (the weight of the drill ), the number of holes required and the physical condition of the angler (drive – manual, electric or motorcycle) and many others.
A fishing drill is an important tool for winter fishing [/ caption] How to decide on the choice of an ice screw for winter fishing and what to look for – we will consider this and other related issues in detail and in detail. We will select the best models of fishing drills for 2021 in different equipment, in different designs, capabilities and prices. What do you need to know about ice screws in general and is it possible to create a high-quality and working “homemade” product?

What will help you decide on the choice of an ice drill – what parameters should be taken into account when buying

Let’s decide what elements the drill consists of and analyze the structure of various types, among which the screw is in the first place (due to its popularity among winter roads and recognition in the market). The Anatomy of a Fishing Drill includes:

• handles;
• brace;
• rod (or from it. Stock – stock);
• auger (spiral);
• knives;
• fasteners for knives.

Auger auger with a double handle [/ caption] First, it is necessary to clarify right away that today it is two-handed augers that are most often used, as this harmoniously distributes the load on hands and structure and facilitates the process of “drilling”. In this case, the handles are located on either side of the center axis. However, there are also examples of one-handed drills (much less commonly used, they are not often found on the counter), which have only one handle.

On the materials and structure of the drill handle

There are plastic and rubber pads on the handles
… If the material is plastic, then you need to be able to distinguish frost-resistant polymer from the usual one. It is difficult to do this in a store: when the temperature rises (as, for example, in the summer heat), low-quality plastic “flows” and deforms. At low negative temperatures, on the contrary, the material becomes extremely fragile and can break even from a weak impact (which can occur if the drill is handled carelessly on ice). You can try to squeeze the patch by checking for elasticity. If it is resilient, it is almost certainly made of quality plastic. There are also certain nuances with rubber. Its properties are determined by the type of rubbers in the composition. Materials including siloxane materials (up to -50 degrees Celsius) or styrene butadiene rubbers are well tolerated in the cold.

Kolovorot

The brace in the design of an ice screw is often called a handle. It is presented in the form of a bent pipe (the shape of which depends on the number of overlays). It optimizes the rotation process. Usually it is performed in one form, the only difference is in size and material. The size must be selected according to your height, or choose a drill in such a way that the length of the bend (twisting part) can be varied using the adjusting holes. A
collapsible drill – a rotor is conventionally called the left part [/ caption]

Stem material

The stem is also represented by a metal tube, however, it is several millimeters larger in the diameter of the brace. There is nothing to talk about the stock itself, except for one most important detail on which the entire quality of the product depends – the material! This also applies to the entire device as a whole. Ice drills are made from steel or titanium. Below is a table in which we have summarized the comparison of materials:

Review of the titanium ice screw LSZ 130 (Leningrad):

https://youtu.be/DaM9mOVcvjc

Material, shape and diameter of the screw

The auger is made in the form of a spiral and serves to get ice crumbs out of the hole, and also determines the size of the hole. The larger its diameter, the larger the fish can be removed. And the greater the load on the muscles it gives when drilling. The most common size for fishing with a fishing rod, balancer (sometimes a girder) is a diameter of 110-130 mm. If you plan to catch large fish, then you should choose powerful winter drills with auger diameter from 150 mm to 200 mm. It should be noted that the drilling process becomes more complicated with increasing diameter.
The diameter of the auger for fishing is selected based on the fishing conditions – for catching small things, drills with a diameter of 90-110 mm, station wagons 110-130, and powerful models for fishing large fish up to 200 mm [/ caption]

The choice of the diameter and type of ice screw for winter fishing:

https://youtu.be/liA_CEtjprQ

What to look for when reviewing knives

Knives in a storm play a very important role, they determine how easy or difficult it will be to break through the ice, what the force of the noise will be, on which ice they will be more effective, and so on.
Different types of knives installed on the ice drill [/ caption] How to choose a fishing winter drill according to the parameters: https://youtu.be/COLvSfyr-sk There are
flat and spherical knives:
In short, the first type is universal – convenient for various ice (wet and dry, crumbling and dense), readily available, inexpensive, convenient in maintenance and is used by almost all domestic drill manufacturers. Among flat knives, stepped knives are also distinguished
(which do not cut off the ice layer, but simply crumble it) and
jagged ones (which are best suited for spring or melted ice).
Spherical knives penetrate well the wet, loose ice surface, so they are good to use in a thaw. But at the same time, it is difficult to sharpen such a surface. This must be taken into account when choosing a model of an ice auger with such a screw shape.

Other types of drills

Let’s walk through other types of drills. Which are not so popular in our time, but some ascetics may meet. As well as on grandfathers’ layouts at a penny cost.

Scapular (bur-spoon)

In the past, a spatula drill was often used. This is a homemade tool, but it has many disadvantages.
In the image, it is obvious that a part of the shovel is welded to the pipe (it is replaced by any steel plate, bent and sharpened). Unfortunately, the scapular type is often blunt, does not scoop out the crumbs from the hole, scrolls hard and slowly cuts a hole, but is one of the most budgetary options.

Ring type

The annular manual ice screw is one of the very undeservedly unpopular types. It looks something like this:
How is it different? The “heart” of this device is a ring with knives and a frame attached from below. In this case, it is important that the handle is on an imaginary perpendicular extending from the center of the ring:
The main disadvantages are: not a collapsible design (you cannot bend it at the knees and put it in a duffel bag), the drilling time increases and there is a slight difficulty in catching on the ice at the beginning of the process. However, it has a quality for which “old-timers” still like to use it – you cut a cylinder with smooth edges, so the hole does not require cleaning, and the tackle will not cling to roughness. Its additional plus is that the ring is easy to make by cutting off a small part of the pipe with a grinder. The main thing is to tilt the knife to the center of the ring at an angle of 45 degrees (it is made from an ordinary plane knife).
Museev’s screw drills are popular models in 2021 [/ caption]

Driving force

In addition to all the above types of the listed drills, there is another classification that is associated with the driving force.

1. There are manual ones (all discussed earlier). Obviously set in motion by hands.
2. Gasoline powered motor-drills for fishing are powered by an internal combustion engine, which allow you to drill faster holes with a large diameter, but give out noise and exhaust in front of the fish (plus, they also cost from 20 thousand rubles to 50 thousand rubles).
3. Electric ones run on an electric motor, the level of noise pollution is much lower than that of gasoline ones, and the cost is about 18-30 thousand rubles.

The best hand-held drills for walking fishing – videos from recognized experts Shcherbakov brothers: https://youtu.be/8f6GyBXlnKU

Drill with a drive on a screwdriver

One of the old and proven ways to make it easier for yourself to drill a large number of holes is to modify the manual ice drill with a screwdriver. In addition, it is an almost silent tool in comparison with the same gasoline one, lightweight and autonomous, since you can carry several spare batteries at once. To create such a unit, you will need a screwdriver with a power of at least 18 V (if you take less, the electric motor will quickly wear out), with a torque of about 80 Nm and a not very high chuck rotation frequency (about 300 – 500 rpm).
An ice auger for winter fishing under a screwdriver facilitates the difficult everyday life of a penguin angler [/ caption] The battery also requires special attention: nickel-cadmium are well suited, since they do not lend themselves to negative temperatures (although they are somewhat bulky and take a long time to charge), but metal will serve ideally -hydride, since in addition to frost resistance, they also have a high capacity. To attach the chuck to the drill, you need to use a certain part: Ice screw
-screwdriver adapter [/ caption]

Check it out! The shank should not be cylindrical, but with a hex so that it can be gripped by a screwdriver. It is also recommended to use a chuck to ensure reliability.

In order for the adapter to be safely attached to the screw, you need to drill a hole with a diameter of 6-8 mm on the side of the nozzle and cut a thread into which the bolt is screwed, pressing our adapter:
Ice screw adapter [/ caption]

How to choose an ice screw for winter fishing: TOP-10 rating of the best for 2021

In our top, we used: personal experience, study of dozens of specialized sites, reviews of people who purchased these borax, as well as advice on choosing, given by the famous expert Vladimir Shcherbakov.

Hand tool for drilling of ice Mora Ice Expert Pro 110, 130, 150

It has spherical knives with a straight edge and a telescopic handle. It drills ice up to 110 cm thick, depending on the model, but you can use an extension cord from the same company, material – steel, weight – 4.5 kg. The price of a drill is about 11,500 rubles.
Reviews of real people who have used this tool:

Advantages : telescopic handle, anti-icing design of the auger, perfectly sharp knives.
Disadvantages : A bit heavy.
Commentary : easily replaceable knives. The country of origin is Sweden.
Yuang

Pluses : Well drills and cuts into any surface.
Disadvantages : price.
Commentary : it is possible to make it cheaper, the price bites very much, and so it is normal, but there is one drawback: this is a handle, where the lock is not securely made by fixing, always folds the handle when you drill a hole.
Vitaly

Vladimir Shcherbakov notes that he has been using such a tool for about 4 years, but care must be taken to avoid backlash.

Auger Hole Drill in Ice Heinola SpeedRun Comfort

Equipped with a cutting head that is easy to change, spherical knives, the auger is fully welded to ensure reliability and reduce noise, there is an anti-corrosion coating and frost-resistant handles. Weight – about 2.5 kg.
The average cost is 6,500 – 7,000 rubles. The opinion of an advanced fisherman, a frequenter of the phishing club forum:

Advantages : compactness, reliability, drilling speed, the ability to attach heads of different diameters.
Cons : no case. The plastic handles are rather weak. The biting cost of an ice screw. The price of knives for replacement and heads.
A comment… For a good five years I have been drilling with this model. During all this time, practical shortcomings did not appear. Finns know how to do good things, and there are no complaints about materials and build quality. Of course, like any expensive multi-piece thing, it requires good handling. But this applies mainly to the time of storage and transportation: it is imperative to protect the cutting part from contacts with metal objects so that the paint does not fight off. Well, it’s not even worth talking about the need to protect knives, this is an aximom of everyone who respects himself and his winter tool. Moreover, this ice auger does not have knives, but a cutting head, if you damage the blades, there is a chance to “get” to replace the head, which will hit your pocket. The cost per head starts at three rubles, no less.
Aab Forum User

Vladimir Shcherbakov notes that this drill is suitable for long hikes and frequent changes of fishing places, since drilling does not require a lot of physical activity and does not cause fatigue.

Mora nova system

Characteristics of the Mora Nova ice screw System for ice fishing: a good tool for wet ice, made of high-strength steel, weight is 3.5 kg, spherical knives and no clearance help to drill quietly.
Opinions and tips for using a drill from practicing anglers:

Advantages : everything.
Disadvantages : price, unreliable handle fixing lock.
Commentary: you can make it cheaper, the price bites very much, but it’s normal, but there is one drawback: this is a handle, where the lock is not securely made, the handle always folds when you drill a hole.
Vitaly

Pluses : lightweight.
Disadvantages : transportation. Not the most convenient for public transport! The price of replacement knives is high!
Commentary : twist the lamb harder in the cold, a backlash may appear.
Alex

Ice screw LadyBur ЛР-100ЛС, 100 mm, left rotation Tonar

Women’s winter ice screw. Maximum drilling depth up to 1085 mm. The upper handle is offset relative to the axis of the ice screw by 105 mm, while the lower handle is 165 mm. Weight – 2.6 kg. Drills 1 meter deep. Handles made of frost-resistant plastic. The line of this model is painted in pink, as the manufacturer positions the drill as female, but in view of the person who will use it, the manufacturer has strengthened the lock in order to reduce the probability of backlash to zero. Cost – 3,000 rubles.
Testimonial from a fisherman, a lover of winter recreation on ice, who used Ladybur:

I started going on winter fishing only from last season. The first times the holes were drilled by friends with their ice screws, but this activity was not given to me. But after a couple of outings I decided to keep up and bought myself a special female drill, but it turns out that the manufacturer also has such in the line, which I was surprised. I chose 100 diameter, because I don’t go after big fish. I can say that the model is light – the weight is only 2.6 kg. Also one of the advantages is that you can work with both hands at once, this greatly facilitates the task of drilling, since I am still “clumsy”, this is key for me! Girls can drill for them, the move is easy. A big plus is not only its weight, but also its small dimensions when folded, it is convenient for transportation and at home. The ice screw has excellent knife sharpening from the factory and a comfortable handle – the hand does not freeze and does not slip. I’m happy with the purchaseI look forward to the new season as soon as possible to test further the pink assistant!
Christina

Ice screw BURAN 130L

Model of a drill of left rotation for winter fishing from the manufacturer Tonar.
This option has a seamless auger, which should help free the hole from the accumulated sludge. The telescopic handle can be used to adjust the height and increase the drilling depth up to 1.5 meters. The weight is 3.5 kg. The polymer covering the handles, according to the manufacturer, protects against impact and frost. The head is not removable, metal and provides a constant cutting angle to the knives. Price – 3000 rubles.

Experience of use: several months.
Pluses : foldable, price
Comment : The ice ax, of course, is good. We tried to drill ice with a thickness of about 40 centimeters, it was easy, almost no effort was needed. And due to the fact that it folds up and becomes two times smaller, space is saved and Buran 130 is easy to transport even in public transport. The design itself looks solid.
Vasily S.

Ice screw Ice Nova, 160 mm Mora

The Swedish ice screw penetrates to a depth of 1 meter (with the full length of the rings up to 122 cm), has 2 flat knives made of Swedish steel, weight about 3 kg, cost – 6,000 rubles.

Advantages : telescopic handle, anti-icing design of the auger, perfectly sharp knives.
Disadvantages : A bit heavy.
Commentary : Easy to replace knives. The country of origin is Sweden. ”
Stanislav

UR Steel Foldable 115 mm. Rapala

Made of high strength steel, foldable and easy to carry, spherical double-knife system, epoxy powder coated, and the steel of the blades is processed 9 times, allowing the blade to stay sharp longer.
Weight – 2.7 kg. Price: 6,000 – 7,000 rubles.

Ice screw TLR-130D-3NTR

Material – titanium. Telescopic handle, total weight 1.7 kg. Drills a maximum of 1.3 meters. Quite a good option, provided that its cost is 12,500 rubles. Quality material handles. As for the disadvantages of this drill, they are the cost and a rather strong operating sound that can frighten off the fish.

ICEBERG-SIBERIA 130 mm

Has a left rotation, telescopic 1600 mm, v3.0 Tonar. The extension rod allows you to set the required length for the thickness of the ice – it can drill up to 1.6 meters. Price: 7,000 rubles.
Angler rating:

Advantages : Nice, long auger, drills well after setting the raw ice blades.
Disadvantages : The diameter of the holes does not correspond to that stated in the passport, slippage with knives for normal ice.
A comment… I took a novelty Iceberg one hundred and thirty, planning to subsequently supply a screwdriver for its drive. This is not to say that the opinion is unambiguous, but it does its job, although not without flaws. The ice screw is contained in a tight box, it is completed with two semicircular knives: installed for normal ice, and the second pair – spare knives for loose and raw ice, there is also a key for unscrewing and replacing the knives. The auger is long and seamless, without joints. Quick, in two steps, handle folding and removable head made of composite material (plastic). The handles fit tightly in the hands, do not play, their coating is rubberized. The rotation is right, as on the imported analogue. I quickly got used to the move at work. The length in the folded position is 118 cm. The trunk of small cars will only fit diagonally.
John

Helios Long 110 mm

The fishing auger has a left-hand rotation, the auger length is 70 cm, from Tonar. Weight is 2.5 kg.
The tool is made with semi-circular blades that are suitable for different types of ice. In addition, a plastic wing and a steel core are used, which were previously on all drills until 2014. The cost is 2,500 rubles. Nevertheless, it is not in vain that this drill is at the bottom of the list. When using it, the blades often get stuck and you have to put more effort to drill a hole. How to choose the best ice drill – a video review of popular models: https://youtu.be/dGoplozTg7w After reading this article, it will be easier to decide which drill is suitable for certain conditions and circumstances, both in terms of available finances and characteristics and qualities. Finally, I would like to add that any drill requires careful use and handling: it is necessary to thoroughly clean all parts of the drill after fishing.It is not necessary to tap it against the adhered ice, it is better to hold the auger in the hole progressively up and down and rinse with water, some fishermen even advise pouring warm water from a thermos, but there is a risk that the metal will become more fragile from the temperature drop. All cracks found must be covered with a protective layer (at least paint sprayed) and the blades of the ice auger must be lubricated with oil during the idle period to make it last longer. Sharpen knives in a timely manner, either on your own, if you have the skills, or in specialized centers that sharpen chainsaws and knives.Any cracks found must be covered with a protective layer (at least with paint spraying) and the blades of the ice auger must be lubricated with oil during the idle period so that it lasts longer. Sharpen knives in a timely manner, either on your own, if you have the skills, or in specialized centers that sharpen chainsaws and knives.Any cracks found must be covered with a protective layer (at least with paint spraying) and the blades of the ice auger must be lubricated with oil during the idle period so that it lasts longer. Sharpen knives in a timely manner, either on your own, if you have the skills, or in specialized centers that sharpen chainsaws and knives.

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