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.

Yes they follow the laws that they want to. The rest they will circumvent, like clear cutting laws.

Fireworks most likely. People can’t help themselves but to light a few off during the day.

5 times. Cutting the tree down, cutting to length, splitting, stacking, burning.

Yep it’s the_poles_of_walmart

Just another tip, property lines can be marked with signs or purple paint on trees signifying private property.

Oxbow in Oxford is a nice vibe all year. Good beer, nice outdoor seating, fires, and a-frames in the winter. Not on the water but you could always grab a growler and go check out the little androscoggin right down the road a few minute walk nice little waterfall dam.