Fishing lovers are not afraid of winter. They can walk on ice even in the most severe weather. But in order for the fish catch to succeed, you need to know how to choose the right drill for winter fishing.
Is it possible to replace the ice drill with something else?
Before you go fishing for the winter, every beginner should imagine how he will make an ice hole there. Indeed, the matter is very important. Indeed, during persistent frosts, the thickness of the ice can reach more than 1 meter. Therefore, the choice of ice drill for winter fishing is one of the most pressing issues that you need to pay attention to.
Is it possible to replace the drill with something else? In fact, it is possible, but only with small frosts and the first frosts. For this, you can use, for example, an ax. This tool will carefully cut through the hole in the size you need. But it will fit in places where warm winters predominate and there are no severe frosts.
What should I look for when choosing an ice drill?
The first drill for winter fishing was made in the 30s of the last century. Since then, this tool has undergone many changes: it has become much smaller, lighter and sharper.
Modern Soviet ice drills are practically no different from foreign ones. Therefore, do not spend extra money to buy, for example, this or that Scandinavian model.
Each drill has such characteristics as:
- Screw diameter Its indicator depends on what kind of fish you are going to catch. If roach, perch and some other medium-sized fish species are enough for you, then a hole with a diameter of 9 to 14 cm will be enough for this. If you want to "hunt" for a larger predator, then the hole in this case should be more than 18 cm
- Material. A modern winter fishing drill is made from either titanium or steel. Every fisherman, of course, wants this tool to serve him his whole life. What material to choose a drill for winter fishing from? Prices, indeed, are different. Steel has not established itself as a reliable material, after several applications it is oxidized, rust appears, and the “tool” does not become as sharp as it was originally. The cost of such drills varies between 1000-3000 rubles. Experts recommend stopping on titanium. Despite the fact that the cost of products from this material is very high (from 4000 rubles), they live up to all expectations and really serve not only you, but also your sons and grandchildren.
How to choose an ice drill for knives?
In order to quickly make a hole in a large thickness of ice, you need a quality drill for winter fishing. Winter fishing only in this case will be a pleasant pastime for you and will not leave you without strength. Therefore, special importance should be given to the knives of the drill. They are attached in such a way that they are part of the screw.
But, so that with the help of an ice drill it would be possible to easily make a hole, it is necessary that the knives are made only of high-quality material (we already mentioned this), and also set at the right angle.
But how to guess that this or that model is suitable for your fishing? No way. You are either lucky or not. Only by trial can you determine if this particular drill is good for winter fishing. Winter fishing, as you see, is a delicate matter ...
Convenience of ice drills
Any tool should be easy to use. Therefore, it is so important that the drill for winter fishing also has the same characteristic. Of course, the convenience of one or another “tool” depends not only on the model itself, but also on the individual needs of a person. But the main criteria by which its further functioning can be determined are the direction of rotation and the location of the upper handle.
In the first case, it is worth mentioning the fact that the handles of some ice drills rotate clockwise, while others - counterclockwise. Therefore, everyone should decide which option will be easier for him to work. Of course, it’s better to find out before you go to the store for him.
As for the location of the upper handle, here it is located directly parallel to the ice. But its main distinguishing feature is that during its rotation on some models one hand is used, in other cases it is necessary to rotate it with both hands. Here is another feature that is considered before you buy a drill for winter fishing. Their choice depends on all of the above factors.
Are there motorized ice drills?
In the modern world, everything is being improved. This also applies to ice drills. Today on the shelves of shops you can even see motorized drills. With each subsequent model they become lighter and more compact. It is also worth noting that, thanks to competition, every year they become more accessible for citizens of our country with an average income.
On the shelves of specialized stores you can find not only gasoline automatic drills, but also electric ones. Both have their advantages.
- During the use of gasoline ice drills, you must always monitor the presence of fuel in the tank. Usually their weight varies from 12 to 17 kg. The largest number of votes is cast for American and Scandinavian models. For them, be prepared to lay out more than 22 thousand rubles.
- If you want to save money, then the option of an electric drill is ideal for you. In order to use it while fishing, it is enough to have a charged battery with you. Electric drills weigh from 8 to 11 kg and cost about 18-20 thousand rubles.
Ice Drill Reviews
According to the forums, most fishermen advise choosing a classic drill for winter fishing. Their prices, as we have said, may vary significantly. But based on the fact that these sites are mainly looking for and considering inexpensive models, as a rule, they discuss the functioning of just such ice drills.
The largest number of reviews was received by such Russian manufacturers as Tornado and Tonar. As for foreign models, Russian fishermen prefer Finnish boers to a greater extent, for example, the Heinola model.