I think this is the winter I'm gonna check ice fishing off my bucket list, but probably only as a one time experience. Since I'm not lookin to invest a lot into it (and the fact that I dont have a lot to invest into it), I have to ask if a hatchet will do the job of a hand auger, or is it safer to use a hand auger? I'll probably only be lookin to cut through 4 or 5 inches of ice.

Never a hatchet, nor even an axe. You can but you're going to be paying for with lots of water on you. I think maybe a pick axe might be better, but I've never tried it.

If you want to do traditional ice fishing, it will be a spud bar (ice chisel) and a big skimmer spool. You can probably weld your own ice chisel, but the going price of an ice chisel is often pretty close to the price of a hand auger already. An auger isn't really necessary if you go to a community spot, you may simply ask someone to drill you a hole. Most ice fishing people are friendly and helpful.

yes with an axe or hatchet you would get very wet as you chop yer holes.

skewl, might want to check out garage sales or ebay. you just might be able to pick up an spud or an auger. and yes as slipperybob said, must ice fisherman will give ya a helping hand. i did that once--ask someone if i could borrow their power auger when i went out ice fishing in northern mi. when i wasn't planning on going. i had been steelhead fishing and the steelies weren't biting that morning. so i went down the road to a lake that still had safe ice on it and went out on it.

to make a long story short. i used the auger to drill a few holes. then pulled out my noodle rod and set up jigging for pike and i had a great afternoon.

So I shouldn't build a fire on the ice to attract fish and get my hole ?  L>O>L. An auger is the best way not to spooke fish ,  My personal is a hand crank , for less than 6" of ice .  Looking forward to first freeze . (H.A.M.E.D.)

you could say that bottomline.
i remember building a fire on the ice once when it was over a ft. thick. there was a big group of us out there and we had familys with us and making a day of it-- by the way it was kind of a church outing that was plained-- and late in the afternoon all of a sudden our fire ring went through the ice and we did have a big hole were our fire was.

There's always chainsaw too. Wet but great for cubing some ice for an igloo...LOL's

i remember using ice saws for cutting our shanty holes. of coarse that was back when i was spearing pike and there was several of us guys helping each other out. there was an elderly fellow that had the saw and us young'ns would go and cut a bunch of holes where a couple of the older gentlemen would tell us. then we help put the shanties over the holes.

i remember that there was like 4 or 5 different areas on the lake that we would put a couple of shanties. everyone in the group had their own shanty , but had access to all the shanties. it was a team effort for moving and keeping the holes open. man those were great times setting up a couple of tip-ups and watching a decoy minnow through a hole in the ice.

Hi Skewl, I agree with everything that's been said so far. Another way to go might be to find a club member in your area to go with. Chances are, if they're anything like me, they would even have plenty of extra equipment. That way you could try it with someone who knows what they are doing and it won't cost you any more than your license and maybe pitch in on gas. that's how I got started. It was a lot more fun than going alone the first time.

how true bubba, i've done that lots of times.....as a matter fact most of the gear used by my s-i-l and his friends is mine.
but really, that is a good way to get started and find out if you are cut out or should i say wanting to do this

Either a auger or spud will work I have picked up several of each at estate and garage sales. be cautious on buying used augers the blades do get dull and without the proper equipment are almost impossible to sharpen. I fish the Saginaw river here in Mi. in the winter and it isn't hard to find open holes to reuse. I do take mu spud out on the ice to break the skim ice out of these holes. also a skimmer is needed to keep the holes from freezing shut on cold days.

OH YEAH if you do buy an used auger many have replacement blades available for them that are razor sharp.

it's hard to find a good person to sharpen them auger blades, but they are out there and it only cost ya half the price of new blades. 2 things to remember if ya do find a good sharpener to do the job for ya. always take yer old blades to them and the resharpen blades do not last as long as the new 1's do.....so don't try and over use them.

Hi, where it is not absolutely necessary it sure does make things easier when the you have more than a foot of ice. A chisel or a hand auger works pretty well with under a foot. I hope the answer is helpful to you.

definately dont need an, auger just chip it out with a heavy 5 foot pry bar. wouldnt take long at all in only 4 or 5 inches of ice. thats how we do it up north when the ice is too thick for the auger to reach the bottom

that even happens with new blades when there is no snow on the ice.