Ice choppers for fishing: reviews, brands, sizes, choice. Winter fishing

Winter fishing is a favorite occupation of many Russian men. Standard equipment, which is required for this kind of pastime, is ice drills for fishing. Reviews about the existing models are very different, so with a competent and attentive attitude, there is plenty to choose from.

Features of choice

How to ensure a good catch? Experienced fishermen know that only good equipment and the ability to handle it will allow catching large fish relatively simply. What to take into account when choosing ice drills? Fishermen note that the most important characteristic of this equipment is its reliability, and only then must pay attention to the diameter and depth of drilling, the height of the screw and the pitch of its turns, as well as the knives used. Of course, there is a weak link in every kind of equipment, so competently choose icebreakers for fishing. Feedback, by the way, can help you make the right choice.

Main characteristics

Experienced fishermen recommend choosing icebreakers depending on the purposes and conditions in which they will be operated. This equipment is produced by different brands and differs in diameter, depth of drilling, angles of sharpening. There are no universal ice drills, therefore real fishermen have several of their varieties.

The second important point is the diameter of the drilling, since the catch can be of a very different size. That's why you need to choose models in which the cutting head has a hemispherical shape. Such a head can be changed to another size if necessary. These requirements are fully met by the Tornado icebreaker of domestic production.

Are there universal models?

The size of the fish plays an important role in the choice of the ice borer. Diameter of 100 mm is enough only for catching small fish - perch, fir, roach, whose weight will not be more than 700 grams. But larger production in such a hole will not get through, besides too small holes quickly freeze in severe frosts. Such models are in demand by lovers of sport fishing, which drill many holes, - with such ice-making device it can be done much easier and faster.

110-130 mm

Universal among fishermen are the Boers, whose diameter is 110-115 cm. With this size of the hole, experts recommend using catch on a balancer or mormyshka, and you can catch a medium-sized fish. Optimum option - icebreaker 130 mm. This model is ideal for winter fishing for any prey. Drilling a hole, of course, is not easy, but you can be sure that even a huge pike you can easily pull out. Such models are considered universal and attract attention with high drilling speed, minimum effort for this, reliability and strength.

150-200 mm

If you are sure that your hunting will be conducted on a really large fish, then you need larger and overall models. For example, a 150 mm icebreaker is ideal for drilling large holes where a giant catfish will pass . The popular models in this size range are the Tornado icebreakers, which are equipped with two handles at once, and therefore are particularly convenient to use. The distinctive features of the model include:

• Convenience of folding the handle;
• The presence of a telescopic insert-extension, which makes the depth of drilling even greater;
• Cover of handles made of rigid plastic with soft plastic;
• Original painting - for "chameleon";
• durability.

Thanks to these qualities, the Tornado icebreaker is considered one of the best among the analogues.

Basic views

There are a variety of ice screws that are in demand among fishermen. Consider the most popular:

1. "A spoon". This ice pick has a sharp part in the form of a spoon, which is used for cutting ice. This construction is considered obsolete, because the drilling process was not fast and simple. In addition, changing knives in case of their blunting was not the easiest task.
2. More good opinions were given to screw augers for fishing . Reviews say that it's easy to use. From the constructive point of view, the model is a rod (tube), at the bottom of which are attached knives, cutting ice. Around the rod is a metal band in the form of a spiral, which rises upward. Such ice screws have a very different diameter - from 70 to 250 mm.
3. Cylinder . This equipment is used infrequently. The principle of its action - in the cut in the thickness of the ice oval hole in the form of a cylinder, which pushes under the ice.

Choosing knives

Winter ice fishing is impossible without the icebreaker, which creates holes. To make this process easier, the knives for the icebreaker should be well sharpened. We note that they are created on the basis of international standards using cold-hardened steel. Special heat treatment of the material allows you to give the knives certain characteristics:

• Resistance to negative environmental influences , primarily to dampness;
• Impact resistance : the use of cold-hardened steel gives knives reliability, strength and protects them from deformation and breakage;
• Sharpness : due to heat treatment, the knives for the ice borer become particularly sharp, which makes it possible to cope with drilling holes even in the ice thickness.

In addition, the knives can be used for a long time, gradually undermining them.

Originally from Barnaul

If you like products of domestic production, then pay attention to the fishing ice drifts "Tonar plus", which are created by the Barnaul plant. The range includes models with a variety of drilling diameters ranging from 80 to 150 mm with drilling depths up to 1500 mm. The plant offers to evaluate five modifications of the icebreakers - from classics to sports style of fishing. These ice screws for fishing reviews received good thanks to the following features:

• High drilling speed with minimum effort;
• Convenient folding of the handle, due to which the equipment becomes compact;
• Absence of backlash;
• The presence of a telescopic extension.

From classical ice drills, Barnaul is distinguished by an increased auger pitch. Thanks to this, drilling becomes easier, the drill does not get stuck in the hole. External processing of polymer paint provides the strength of the coating and its resistance to temperature changes. Separate attention deserves the Barnaul icebreaker titanium, which is characterized by lightness, strength, resistance to rust and high manufacturing quality.

Originally from Leningrad

Leningrad Plant offers a wide range of ice drills of various types. In the standard version, the drill cope with an ice thickness of 1150 mm. These models are available both with a conventional handle and a cutting head, and in a different modification, which is complemented by screw augers. According to the fishermen, this is a very easy-to-use model for ice fishing, which is easy to fold: for this you only need to add a handle that is locked with a nut. It is also important that the titanium icebreaker is also lightweight compared to steel analogues, so it is much easier and easier to transport it. There are in the line of the plant and sports ice-axes, which allow drilling holes with a diameter of 100 mm. As the producers say, such drills will be liked not only by the proponents of active ice fishing, but also by those who hunt for medium-sized fish. The cost of the simplest model is about 3000 rubles, expensive telescopic will cost 7000 rubles.

Mora

Among foreign manufacturers, the Swedish firm Mora is listening. It has its own peculiarity - drilling is done clockwise, while domestic models allow drilling counter-clockwise. In the model range, you can find a variety of Mora icebreakers, and the main difference between models is in the height of the knife spiral, the dimensions and the drilling diameter. Users note that the drill bits of this brand are easy to use, and the shortcomings indicate a too rapid blunting of the knives if sand falls on them. But they can be imprisoned. Among popular modifications, users note the following:

1. Mora Expert PRO 130. This drill costs 3000 rubles, it is convenient and simple to use. The uniqueness of the model is in spherical knives, thanks to which it is easy to drill dry or wet ice. The telescopic handle allows you to drill ice with a thickness of up to 120 cm. Another feature is the possibility of connecting the auger to the screwdriver, which will make drilling holes even faster.
2. Mora Ice Arctic. This drill Mora drills holes with a diameter of 150 mm to a depth of 160 cm. If ice of greater depth, an additional extension piece can be used. The drills in this line are equipped with a folding handle, a universal auger, which is supplemented by spherical cutting knives. Among the positive moments, users note the resistance of coating and painting and the increased length of the auger.

NERO

The products of this brand are also in demand among buyers. In their opinion, the Nero icebreaker should be chosen for an especially cold climate, since it is created from steel of excellent quality. Handles models are made of plastic high frost resistance, and special inserts based on fluoroplastic are a guarantee that the drill will easily rotate even at extreme temperatures. The difference of the model is the patented system of joining sections, which increases the service life of the entire structure. This is a modern fishing equipment, which can be purchased at affordable prices. So, for the easiest icebreaker the price is on average 1,700 rubles.

Attracts the attention of the telescopic drill, which was released by the brand literally two years ago. Its distinctive feature is its ability to operate under any natural conditions, since testing was conducted in the Arctic. Depending on the depth of ice in a particular region, the drill can be supplemented with an insert that significantly improves the performance of ice fishing. Every year the brand offers an expanded line of ice drills, each of which finds a response from the fishermen. Nero icebreaker has established itself as a reliable and easy-to-use fishing gear that has a well-thought-out design and is equipped with high-quality knives.

Let's sum up the results

As we can see, modern drills are supplied by both domestic and foreign producers. What to choose? How to choose? We offer you a number of the most popular advantages and disadvantages so that you can choose the suitable ice pick for winter fishing:

• Foreign analogs with similar technical characteristics are more expensive;
• Sharpening knives of foreign models is not an easy task;
• On the other hand, foreign-made knives are much more reliable than domestic ones;
• Among the Boers of Russian production, marriage is often found.

So the question of what price the price to the icebreaker should not be the main thing when choosing this equipment.