Comfort, mobility, efficiency: Top ice-fishing gear for 2024-25

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The ability to stay mobile, comfortable, and fish fast on the ice have become key factors for anglers and the gear they use during the winter months.

That’s just what most major shelter and auger manufacturers have accomplished with their new editions for this ice fishing season.

This season’s shelters are amazingly warm and lightweight, while the trend of electric augers continues to move forward. Here’s a look at what you’ll want to take on the ice this winter.

New K-Drill EXT Ice Auger

Elevate your ice-fishing experience with the K-Drill EXT ice auger, the latest innovation in ice auger technology.

With an adjustable extension shaft, locking knob, and three extension positions, the EXT can effortlessly drill through up to 45 inches of ice. The EXT is engineered to work seamlessly with electric drills, making it compact, quiet, and easy to use. It’s available in 7.5-inch and 8.5- inch blade diameters.

Additional features on the new EXT auger include four positions, adjusted by 3-inch increments (36-inch, 39-inch, 42-inch, and 45-inch). Its shaft is made of aircraft-grade 7075 aluminum, so it’s lightweight and strong.

The EXT includes durable tool steel chipper blades, a large center point to re-open holes safely and easily, foam float, which prevents the drill from sinking, durable composite flighting, and a threaded knob.

All you need is a half-inch drill chuck and you’re off and running on the ice. K-Drill even offers free blade sharpening for the life of the blades.

www.kdrillauger.com

Clam Shelters

You knew Clam wasn’t going to sit dormant heading into this ice fishing season. Once again they added to their already impressive line-up of portable fishing shelters.

The new Clam Ranger XT Thermal FishTrap is built off the footprint of the popular Nanook XT Thermal, but now has Clam’s durable 1¼-inch pole system, along with all the bells and whistles that anglers have come to expect from Clam.

They’ve maintained many of the features anglers loved about the Nanook – small pack down size, lightweight design, thermal insulation, accessories, and room for multiple anglers – this shelter builds off that with a durable pole system.

The Clam X-600 Thermal Hub is the perfect portable ice shelter for a group of buddies or a day on the ice with friends and family. With unmatched durability, strength, and ease of use, it’s the perfect pop-up ice fishing shelter for those that want to spend their time on the ice fishing in comfort.

The X-600 Hub features the Max Entry door system, ample space (94 square feet of fishable space) for multiple ice anglers and the top components ice anglers are looking for. The Ice Ops Edition of this shelter features sewn in rod holders and is a great option for spearfishing or sight fishing because of its black exterior and interior fabric.

This unit comes with a three-year warranty and a portion of the proceeds from both shelters also goes to benefit Folds of Honor Foundation.

www.clamoutdoors.com

StrikeMaster red, white, and blue ice auger

Looking to flare up your StrikeMaster auger? Look no further. StrikeMaster is introducing the lightweight Lite-Flite Lazer Drill Unit in a USA Patriotic model. It’s the ultimate tool for run-and-gun ice anglers.

The 8-inch USA drill fits the 24-volt and 40-volt power heads and is a perfect cordless drill option. It’s designed to be used with any professional quality 18-volt or higher brushless, handheld cordless driver with a half-inch chuck and side-handle, or, of course, any StrikeMaster ice auger powerhead.

This auger is available in an 8-inch drill, and features a proprietary synthetic resin molding, fulllength, segmented flighting. The carriage is formed from exclusive engineered compounds for unbeatable durability allowing you to drill every hole with confidence. It’s reinforced with a “T” connection to the carriage with a heavy-duty steel hex shaft for extra strength.

The unit’s Power Point keeps the drill unit in place while drilling, while its twin serrated stainless steel Lazer Blades slice through ice like butter. It also comes with a magnetic snap cover blade guard and an NDA-3 drill adapter and FND safety flange, and is available in a distinct, red, white and blue color scheme.

rapala.com/strikemaster

Clam heaters

While Clam has been the leader in the portable ice fishing shelter market, it seems only fitting that they’d develop portable heaters to accompany them, and they have this season – three of them in fact.

The Clam CH-4200 Portable Propane Radiant Heater is the ultimate in portable heaters. This incredi- bly durable small heater is ruggedly built for ice fishermen, but excels in all situations where a small portable heater is required.

The foldable legs on the heater’s base ensures that keeping your heater stable and upright has never been easier. The Clam CH-4200 uses a disposable one-pound propane cylinder and has a maximum BTU of 4,200.

The Clam CH-10000vh Portable Propane Radiant Heater has a maximum BTU of 10,000 and is an industry first propane heater with a variable heat range.

No more being cold on low power and shedding all your layers on high. With the Clam CH-10000vh you have full control of the temperature in your shelter. This unit has a fully adjustable output ranges of 5,500 to 10,000 BTU and a dependable electronic ignition, starting your heater has never been easier. It also runs off a one-pound propane cylinder or it can be attached to a refillable tank.

The Clam CH-16000vh Portable Heater is another incredibly durable heating option for ice anglers. This large portable heater has a maximum BTU of 16,000 and includes variable heat range. With the Clam CH-16000vh you have full control of the temperature in your shelter.

This unit has two fully adjustable output ranges of 6,000 to 8,000 BTU and then again from 12,000 to 16,000 BTU. It also has an electronic ignition and can use two disposable one-pound propane cylinders or you can attach it to a refillable tank.

www.clamoutdoors.com

StrikeMaster power box

The new StrikeMaster power box literally rocks. This portable package has it all, using the same lithium 40-volt battery as Strikemaster’s lithium 40-volt augers.

It powers a Bluetooth speaker, LED area light, includes multiple USB ports for a variety of electronic devices, universal terminals and when plugged into 110- volt it recharges the lithium 40-volt battery. It’s perfect for powering fish locators and portable LED light kits.

This unit also features an LED charging status indicator, LED area light with white and UV Options, two USB-A ports (Output), two USB-C ports (Output), universal positive and negative terminals, lighted master power switch, banana plugs with alligator clips, and more.

rapala.com/strikemaster

Rapala SmartHub Utility Pouch

One could argue that there isn’t a fishing tackle manufacturer that cares more about helping anglers stay organized so they can spend more time catching fish than Rapala.

That’s the entire reason behind the Rapala SmartHub System. It’s the ultimate, versatile organization system that gives ice anglers endless options to interchange, adjust and organize their equipment, lures, rods, reels – basically everything they need at their fingertips to focus on what they want to do the most – catch more and bigger fish.

For this hard-water season, the SmartHub System expands with several new additions that will help hardwater anglers become better organized on the ice, in their garage, or wherever they choose to keep their gear.

Among them is the SmartHub Utility Pouch from Rapala has multiple storage pouches spaced to help organize and keep tools close at hand. A carabiner lock/release secures the pouch to a SmartHub Mount, which can be connected to a vertical, flat surface with a SmartHub Flat Mount Connector, which is included.

www.rapala.com