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zoolilba t1_ja5w2ls wrote

I just started this year. I've only been twice so far. I got an hand auger, traps from Facebook marketplace and a cheap tent from ebay for around $100. I do wish I had some sort of power auger. But the hand auger is ok if you can find someone else's old holes and re open them. I kinda just went for it. A license is like 30$ but it's year round. So you can go in the summer too. I've seen some power augers for $100-150 used. I just need to pull the trigger. I'd recommend a sled to transport your gear. Honestly anything long will do. Some stuff at Walmart is on sale now because it's late in the season. I got some neoprene gloves for $5 they had traps really cheap too. If you get worms for bait check them before you buy them. I got some last weekend and by the time I got out on the ice I found that they were dead. I didn't feel like going all the way back to the store by then for my $3. I'd like to try live minnows soon.

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enjoiart t1_ja8jffr wrote

if you have a newish hand auger with removable handle you can often times find a drill chuck adapter and use a hammer drill. They do have fancier drill augers but they are getting into to the $200 range just for the auger. I use the strike master lazer 8" with adapter. Most people I know are switching over to this style just because how compact and light it is & they just rip through the ice without any screwing around with small engines. With the bait not sure if you brought water, but most bait places will let you dip water from their tank. That will make it so the fish won't be shocked to new water temp. I usually go with shiners because they are a lot more hardy then smelts. Smelts die pretty easy, shiners on the other hand will probably live in that water for days.

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zoolilba t1_ja8ktkr wrote

Cool ya. I actually did just get an adapter. I just need to find a good drill. It looks like it'll be around $200 based on what tips I've found on the Internet. I figured too then I'll have a really good drill too. I really do want to try fish bait. I'll try shiners.

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