Efficient, portable, lightweight and powerful. (Buy from Amazon)
The electric ion ice auger truly is a revolutionary tool, especially if you love ice fishing.
Every ice fisherman dreams of the day when they can put their manual hand auger into semi-retirement. It’s served you well over the years and it makes an excellent backup option, but the time has now come for you to turn to a power auger. The only question left is which kind you should buy?
An electric ice auger is superior in so many ways. We’re going to look at why the electric Ion ice auger is the ideal choice and why it’s the most popular ice augers currently on the market.
Electric Ion Ice Auger | Review
Before we get into all the details on the Ion ice auger, just watch this video for a general overview of the Ion ice fishing auger.
We’ll give you a thorough overview of the electric Ion ice auger and tell you the pros and cons to help you decide if it’s the right ice auger for you. We’ve included many great videos throughout this article so you can actually see it working, in the wild, and decide for yourself. Forget about what we say, just watch the videos and make up your own mind.
Let’s be honest, it’s better to see the Ion ice auger working rather than reading about it — ice fishermen love the Ion ice auger, and it’s easy to see why this is highly rated and one of the best ice augers you can buy. If you want to learn more, read the ice fishing forums, and another one here at the Outdoorsmen Forum.
New & Improved : ION X 8″ Electric Ice Auger
Since writing this article ION has released a new and improved electric ice auger : ION X 8′ Electric Ice Auger. It’s superior in many ways. Honestly, if you’re serious about ice fishing then you should really consider the ION X.
A massive improvement over the original ION ice auger. Worth the extra cost.
ION X has been dramatically improved over the original ION electric ice auger.
Features:
- 5 amp-hour 40V battery: 60% higher storage capacity than the original ION battery.
- Cut up to 1600-inches of ice on a single charge.
- Designed with two LED lights to help you see when it’s dark outside or in low level lighting conditions.
- Weighs only 22 lbs. : 40% lighter than conventional gas augers
- Aluminum cast bottom: New cast bottom results in a smoother, more even cut when drilling or Re-drilling holes.
- Re-designed handlebars: Handles are now closer to the powerhead making it easier to drill next to the wall of your ice shack.
- Easy-to-connect 12″ extension in the box. Extend the length of the 34-inch long steel auger to 46″ of drilling depth.
- No gas or fumes to deal with. Easy to store and transport in your vehicle. You don’t need to worry about spills. Clean energy.
- ION X has a reverse button, allowing you to flush the slush back down through the hole you’ve drilled.
Watch this video of the ION X Ice Auger
The ION X features a 5 amp-hour lithium-ion battery with a 60% capacity improvement over the original 3 amp-hour battery, which means you can drill more holes and do more ice fishing without having to worry about recharging your battery. Thankfully the battery only takes a couple hours to charge (charger included).
Streamlined for optimal ice drilling.
Bicycle-style handlebars put your hands in the ideal drilling position and reduces the strain on your body while allowing you to be comfortable in any position.
— Original 40V ION ice auger
Features and Facts | Ion Ice Auger
34″ and 46″ length (with included extension).
No fumes to worry about when you’re inside your ice shanty.
The Ion brand is owned by a company named Ardisam, which has been around since the sixties. They are an American company based in the Midwest.
There’s no beating around the bush, this Ion electric auger gives you everything you need when you’re out on your fishing excursions. It’s ultra-portable, versatile (34″ and 46″), convenient 40V battery makes it quiet and clean to use, no fumes, lightweight (21 lbs.), and top it all off, it has a reverse gear to clean out the slush so you don’t have to do it manually.
This is an awesome electric auger that will make drilling holes an enjoyable and efficient experience. It doesn’t get any easier than this when it comes to drilling holes.
Did you know that an electric ice auger has more torque than a gas auger? Well, it’s true. Higher torque makes it easier and quicker to drill through ice.
Features:
- 40V MAX lithium Ion battery can drill through approximately 1000 inches of ice on a full charge.
- ION reverse gear. No need to scoop the slush anymore.
- Easy to hold handle bars are like riding a bike.
- Large, easy to access start.
- Compact, lightweight transmission with planetary gears.
- 12″ auger extension (included) increases auger length to 46-inches.
- Tough Steel auger.
- Straight Through design blades.
- Battery charger included.
ION 11736 Replacement Battery
Buy the battery holder to keep the battery warm in cold climates.
Supporting Documents
- View or download the instruction guide for the Ion ice auger.
- Learn how to care for the Ion battery (view or download the PDF). Note: When buying from Amazon, this Ion ice fishing auger includes the battery. This document says otherwise, but some retailers sell it without the battery, so just be aware of this when making your purchase.
Overview | Ion Electric Auger
Quiet
When your dad took you fishing for the very first time, he probably told you to be quiet in case you scared the fish away. It might have been a slight exaggeration on his part, but you can almost guarantee the fish are going to hear a loud power auger drilling through the ice. Electric ice augers make a lot less noise than their gas-powered counterparts, so if you’re lucky you’ll be able to drill your hole peacefully before the fish swim away to the other side of the lake.
You Can Use Them Indoors
Attempt to use a gas auger indoors and you’ll be asking for trouble. If the fumes don’t cause you to choke, the lingering smell will make your ice fishing experience very uncomfortable. You won’t have any of that to worry about when you’re using an electric ice auger to drill your holes, so it’s the ultimate power tool for anyone who prefers fishing in the comfort of a relaxing ice shanty where you’ll only have the sweet smell of victory to deal with as you catch your fish.
The reverse gear is a fantastic feature.
Lighter Equals More Portable
When you’re a lot more mobile on the ice, it means you’re always going to catch more fish. You’ll be able to carry your electric auger to where they are quite easily without lugging something much heavier around. Even being able to carry your auger from your vehicle to your ice shanty means less stress on your body, and although that won’t necessarily help you catch more fish it’s nice to do everything you can to make your life as easy as possible.
They’re Much Easier To Start
The only thing you need to worry about with an electric ice auger is the battery, because it’s not going to work properly when it’s far too cold. As long as you keep the battery warm enough you won’t have any trouble starting your auger. Anything gas-powered can always run into difficulties when you’re trying to start it, and although good models shouldn’t cause you many problems it’s less reliable than an electric one.
Cheaper than Gas or Propane
Have you looked at the prices of the different ice augers on the market? Gas and propane augers are generally more expensive than electric ones, which comes down to the fact they’re more powerful. For the majority of ice fishermen it shouldn’t make any difference, especially considering the Ion ice auger we’re going to look at later is good enough to satisfy anyone’s needs. Why spend more when you can drill the holes you need, as well as getting all the extra benefits an electric ice auger brings?
Drilling Holes A Lot Quicker
If it was an endurance race the gas-powered ice auger would come out on top, but luckily because you’re only drilling one hole at a time it’s more of a sprint. If you don’t need to drill too deep the electric ice auger will be much quicker, which is down to the fact it comes on at full speed straight away. The gas auger is always going to be slower because of the time it needs to ramp up to full speed.
Oil And Gas Spills
I’m sure you’ve seen all the commotion over the last few years because of things like giant oil spills. Granted, a tiny little gas auger isn’t going to cause too much devastation if you have an oil or gas spillage on the lake, but it’s not going to cause zero damage either. You don’t even need to let the thought of environmental damage enter your mind when using an electric auger, which is great for those with a tough of green in them.
Staying In Control Of The Auger
Any powered auger isn’t something you want to mess with as you might get hurt, so you want to do everything possible to stay in control of it at all times. Although gas augers aren’t dangerous enough to stay away from, they definitely vibrate a lot more than electric ones. Even if you’re really strong the vibrations could cause you to lose control, so it’s worth pointing out that electric augers are much safer for smaller individuals.
Electric Ion vs Propane Ice Auger
This video that compares the Ion auger with the Jiffy Pro4 propane auger.
The Ion Ice Auger
The Ion ice auger is designed by one of the best companies in the world when it comes to electric augers, so it’s no surprise the current 8-inch best seller is packed full of so many features you’ll be wondering why you didn’t accidentally lose your manual hand auger years ago. If you feel the time is right to opt for a powered auger, we’re going to look at all the things that help this Ion product stand out.
A 12-Inch Auger Extension
Let’s discuss this feature first, only because those in favor of gas and propane augers will claim they’re usually a lot longer. They are longer when compared to electric ones, but the Ion ice auger solves that by offering you a 12-inch extension. It will allow you to drill down deeper if your shanty is raised high off the ground, and when it gets closer to late season and the ice is thicker you’ll still be able to drill down into the water below.
Ion Ice Auger Accessories | Multi-Tool
Bicycle-Style Handlebars
The weirdest thing about these handlebars has to be the fact you don’t see them on many other augers, which is a shame because when you hold the Ion ice auger in your hands you will feel like you’re standing in the optimal drilling position. It takes all the hard work out of the drilling for you, and because the Ion ice auger won’t vibrate as much as a gas-powered one you could almost drill a hole blindfolded with one hand tied behind your back.
Extremely Durable Steel Auger
We’ve already mentioned the extension, but even without it the auger is still a respectable 34-inches long. The Ion ice auger also includes trademarked Straight-Through blades and a Spot-On centering ring. You have to give credit to companies with their own trademarked technology, and these two in particular were developed to make the auger as durable as possible and powerful enough to drill clean holes all throughout winter.
High-Energy 40V Max Battery
It’s also common to hear people complain about battery life when they’re comparing an electric auger to a gas or propane-powered one, but do you think the battery on the Ion ice auger has anything to be ashamed of? It cuts through a massive 1000-inches of ice on a single charge, and it can be recharged in hours. Even if it slowed down as time went on you wouldn’t notice the difference in a single day unless you spent all your time drilling holes instead of fishing.
An Ergonomically-Positioned Trigger
If you want to keep your hands nice and warm, you won’t want to take your gloves off while you’re drilling a hole. The Ion ice auger won’t require you to because the ergonomically-positioned trigger is simple to engage. A duel-trigger safety system and electric momentary quick-stop brake are also built into the Ion ice auger to make it one of the safest powered augers you can carry around with you this winter.
Straight-Through Blade Design
Here is another piece of trademarked technology used by the Ion ice auger, except I think this one will save you a lot of heartache while you’re fishing. The straight-through blades are almost guaranteed to prevent catching at the bottom of the hole, which means a smooth breakthrough and no jagged edges. This will stop you from catching a big fish only to see it slip away because your line snaps on your sharp-edged hole.
Ion Ice Auger Reverse Button
Do you ever find yourself getting annoyed when your lovely new hole is full of slush after you’ve finished drilling it? You’ll appreciate the reverse button on the Ion electric ice auger because it will take you less than 20 seconds to get rid of it. All you need to do is carefully place your auger back into the hole making sure it’s sitting just below the bottom of the ice, then squeeze on the reverse button for 15-20 seconds until the slush comes flying out.
Why reverse is important | Video
Planetary Gear Transmission
If you’ve been wondering the secret as to why the Ion ice auger can almost compete with gas augers in high-power delivery while still staying lightweight, this is the answer you’ve been looking for. You get the maximum efficiency while still staying as lightweight as possible due to Ion’s small 100% metal transmission with planetary gears. The design is one-of-a-kind, so you won’t see anything as advanced in other electric augers.
Important Safety Precautions
By now you know an electric ice auger is a lot safer than gas and propane-powered augers because of what we’ve discussed, but they are still not toys you can mess around with without seriously injuring yourself. You’re not using an old school manual hand auger any more, so it would be wise to look at a few of the more important safety precautions you have to keep in the back of your mind at all times.
Blades are easy to replace. Simple on/off switch. Simple to use.
The Blades Are Razor Sharp
The reason you can drill through the ice so easily is because the blades are razor sharp, and I know you’re sensible enough to stay away from them when you’re operating the auger. Don’t forget to pay just as much attention when you’re replacing the blades or sliding the safety covers on when it’s not in use.
Be Wary Of Loose Clothing
You can only go ice fishing when it’s cold outside, so it means you’ll likely be wearing a lot more layers of clothing. You might even decide to wear a scarf, and even though it’s wrapped around your neck it could unravel and fall into the moving parts. Always pay attention to where your clothing is when operating the ice auger.
The Bolts, Nuts, And Screws Should Be Tight
When we blasted the gas auger for vibrating too much, nothing was ever said about an electric ice auger never vibrating. Even when something vibrates a little it has a habit of loosening bolts, nuts, and screws. This will be worse if they’re not completely tight to begin with, so check them before each use.
How the Ion ice auger works.
Don’t Operate Under The Influence
Ice fishing is an exciting sport, so it’s likely alcohol will be consumed while you’re sitting around in your shanty. The Ion electric ice auger might be easy to handle, but you can’t take chances when you’re under the influence of drink. Someone sober who knows how to use the auger should be drilling the holes.
Always Remove The Battery
The battery is the device powering an electric auger, so take out the battery and you cut the power. When carrying out any repairs the battery should come out first. If you can’t lift the auger out of the hole, remove the battery before trying to pull it out manually. Basically just remember to remove the battery when power isn’t needed.
If The Auger Stops Inside The Hole
You might run into a problem where the auger suddenly stops as you’re drilling the hole. There is nothing to be alarmed by, but take the time to reorganize your footing and grip the handles tightly before you press down on the operating trigger again. Ideally you’ll make sure your footing and grip is perfect before each use.
How Many Holes? | Ion Ice Auger
Don’t Push Down On The Auger
The Ion electric ice auger is designed so you don’t need to push down with any force when drilling holes. Should it start to slow down when you’re operating it even though everything else seems to be working correctly, it likely means the blades need to be replaced or sharpened, so don’t keep drilling the hole.
The Ion Ice Auger Is A Great Choice
We’ve covered a huge list of reasons why you should choose an electric ice auger, but maybe you would prefer something else. Your manual hand auger perhaps? If you decide to go electric you should keep it around, but the ultimate choice at this moment in time is the Ion ice auger. You can look at a number of different ones, but compare them to the features we talked about and you’ll not be able to find anything to match it.
Tips | Electric Ion Ice Auger
After drilling your holes
- Place auger below the bottom of the ice. The end of the auger must be below the bottom of the ice so the shavings will flush completely.
- Rotate the ION in reverse for 15-20 seconds by drilling normally while holding the reverse button.
If you want to learn more visit the Ion site.
A great article on ice fishing and the Ion electric auger from The Maine Outdoorsman.
Accessories | Ion Electric Ice Auger
Bit-Switch Quick-Release System
Easily remove your ION auger bit.
An ingenious add-on that allows you to easily switch auger bits without the use of additional tools. It’s not complicated but it’s convenient.
Ion Battery Holder / Case / Holds 2 Ion 40V batteries.
Keeping your battery warm will ensure it will start your auger in the cold.
Made with long-lasting 600D Polyester Oxford fabric. This ION battery holder is great for storage and keeping your batteries warm when you’re out in the cold. It’s important to keep your battery from getting too cold, otherwise it may be difficult to get your auger started.
It’s designed with mesh wall pockets so you can add hand warmers to keep your batteries nice and warm, ready when you need it to drill holes in the frigid ice.
8-Inch Replacement Blades | 11735
No Catch Cutting System features Straight-Through blade design.
Have sharp blades are essential when your drilling through the easy. Might be a good idea to have an extra set when your old can no longer be sharpened. Easy to install. These blades make it simple to achieve a clean breakthrough with no jagged ice at the bottom of your hole.
Replacement Ion Auger Bit
If you bend or break your bit, you’ll need a replacement.
The ION auger incorporates a No Catch Cutting System with a Spot-On centering ring enabling you to re-open frozen holes with little effort. Engineered to eliminate “catching” when breaking-through the ice, preventing the auger from jarring stops or yanks. This auger creates a smooth break-through; leaving no jagged ice at the base of the hole that can fray your line and even cost you a fish or two.
Frabill Shelter Light Bar | Ice Fishing
Impact resistant casing.
Features:
- 18 lumens of light emitted by each pod (containing 3 lights).
- 72 lumens = total light.
- Hook & loop can attach to a wide variety of ice shelter frames.
- Beveled back fits well into narrow spaces.
- Adjustable light pods in any direction.
- Runs on 6 AA batteries.
- No need to remove the lights when taking down your ice shelter.
- Strong impact resistant housing.
Visit the Ion site to see all of the available accessories.
ION X Ice Auger —
Video | Technology behind the ION X Electric Ice Auger