What New Ice Fishing Gear Has You Excited for This Season (2024 Edition)

[AlbertanGP]

Seeing as last year's thread was dredged up recently, I thought I'd start a new one for this season.

I'll start it off with a new heater I picked up recently after breaking the ceramics in a brand new Big Buddy up at Bistcho last March (PSA don't lay a Buddy Heater on it's back while travelling). I decided to give the Heat Hog a try after seeing it on Alex Timm's channel and doing a bit of research. I don't have any issues with Buddy Heaters, but just wanted to try something different.
It is deeper than a Big Buddy...especially if you use the tilt feature. Time will tell how it integrates with the rest of my setup. If I don't like it, there's another Big Buddy on the shelf in the shop. It is old and cranky like its owner though and prone to not lighting when it really counts...

[SNAPFisher]

Well that is pretty darn neat. I would be interested in a mid season how it is going update. I see they have a single 9000 BTU with tilt as well for those smaller jobs. Very interesting, thanks!

[AlbertanGP]

The smaller 9000 BTU unit is available at Canadian Tire. This larger one I ordered from Amazon I believe. One thing I like is it has a beefy pilot flame on it. Hopefully that alleviates some of the issues I've had with Buddy Heaters. Will definitely post an update this winter.

[bradvtown]

Originally Posted by AlbertanGP

Seeing as last year's thread was dredged up recently, I thought I'd start a new one for this season.

I'll start it off with a new heater I picked up recently after breaking the ceramics in a brand new Big Buddy up at Bistcho last March (PSA don't lay a Buddy Heater on it's back while travelling). I decided to give the Heat Hog a try after seeing it on Alex Timm's channel and doing a bit of research. I don't have any issues with Buddy Heaters, but just wanted to try something different.
It is deeper than a Big Buddy...especially if you use the tilt feature. Time will tell how it integrates with the rest of my setup. If I don't like it, there's another Big Buddy on the shelf in the shop. It is old and cranky like its owner though and prone to not lighting when it really counts...

Best thing I ever bought for my buddy heater was the carry bag. Keeps the snow and crap out of it for riding in a sleigh behind ATV/Sled and holds an extra 1lb propane bottle.

[AlbertanGP]

Yeah I have the bags for both of mine. Unfortunately they don't provide much/any cushioning. I just use mine to keep my hoses and wrenches with the heaters.

[Hunter Trav]

Originally Posted by AlbertanGP

Seeing as last year's thread was dredged up recently, I thought I'd start a new one for this season.

I'll start it off with a new heater I picked up recently after breaking the ceramics in a brand new Big Buddy up at Bistcho last March (PSA don't lay a Buddy Heater on it's back while travelling).

The real question is...how did you make out at Bistcho and why wasn't there a thread on it? Or am I just blind and missed it?? Lol

[WayneChristie]

Im curious to know what difference the tilt makes. no fan and the heat rises so it shouldnt go any further tilted or not but im usually wrong . easier for the pike slime to put out the flame if its tilted

[AlbertanGP]

Originally Posted by Hunter Trav

The real question is...how did you make out at Bistcho and why wasn't there a thread on it? Or am I just blind and missed it?? Lol

No thread was created. Fishing was ok...nothing to write home about. Lot's of nice fat walleye around 23-24" and a few pike to 20lbs (which is why I went). Because snow was light last year and the natives plowed the trail in as they bought Tapawingo Lodge recently, access was too easy IMO. That took away from the trip as there were lots of locals from the region at the lake. There were even pickup trucks parked on the hill at the lodge when we arrived. Still a fun trip overall, but I wouldn't do it again unless I knew there was enough snow that you had to sled in 65km or so to access the lake. Then there's also the fact that Tapawingo Lodge burnt to the ground early the spring due to a forrest fire...

[AlbertanGP]

Originally Posted by WayneChristie

Im curious to know what difference the tilt makes. no fan and the heat rises so it shouldnt go any further tilted or not but im usually wrong . easier for the pike slime to put out the flame if its tilted

It's radiant heat, so I'm pretty sure it will help. I keep my heater on the milk crate carrying the 20lb propane tank, so melting the ice in front of the heater isn't really an issue for me. Again, I feel like is bulkier overall than the Big Buddy. So it's going to have to perform like a champ or it won't be sticking around.

[AlbertanGP]

Bought a 10" Pistol Bit 2.0 for my e40 powerhead while I was in Edmonton yesterday. The specs suggest it's slower than the ION Alpha and only has 2/3 the capacity. But it was such a champ last year the odd time I tried it that I wanted to really put it head to head with the ION this season.

PS - The Eskimo is supposedly much lighter than the ION, so someone remind me to post the weights of each if I forget.

[Hunter Trav]

Originally Posted by AlbertanGP

No thread was created. Fishing was ok...nothing to write home about. Lot's of nice fat walleye around 23-24" and a few pike to 20lbs (which is why I went). Because snow was light last year and the natives plowed the trail in as they bought Tapawingo Lodge recently, access was too easy IMO. That took away from the trip as there were lots of locals from the region at the lake. There were even pickup trucks parked on the hill at the lodge when we arrived. Still a fun trip overall, but I wouldn't do it again unless I knew there was enough snow that you had to sled in 65km or so to access the lake. Then there's also the fact that Tapawingo Lodge burnt to the ground early the spring due to a forrest fire...

Oh wow, I had heard that it had gotten sold but never heard who bought it. Did not hear that it had burnt up in a fire though, thats really too bad. I looked after that place the winter before covid and really enjoyed my time up there. But the camp was getting pretty old and Steve wasn't too interested in putting any money into it to keep it up...

[AlbertanGP]

So a liitle update on the Heat Hog. I finally took it out of the box about 3-4 weeks after receiviing it on Amazon...just in time to miss the return window. Fired it up and found that it did not light well. The ceramics were covered in a "fuzzy" blue flame and even after two minutes being lit, and there were only blotches of orange where the ceramics had come up to a proper temperature. So I picked up a 20lb bottle from the lake and tried that...no difference.

Now I'm anticipating a fight to get this thing replaced. I called Pinnacle Climate Technologies Customer Care and was pleasntly surprised. They talked to me about what was going on with the unit and the altitude at which I was using it. Then they asked for a screenshot from Amazon showing the purchase date and mailing address. And they told me they'd send me a whole new unit. I asked if I needed an RMA for the defective unit and they said I could keep it as a spare or for parts.

I sure hope the next one works, as they'll have a customer for life.

[AlbertanGP]

Originally Posted by AlbertanGP

Bought a 10" Pistol Bit 2.0 for my e40 powerhead while I was in Edmonton yesterday. The specs suggest it's slower than the ION Alpha and only has 2/3 the capacity. But it was such a champ last year the odd time I tried it that I wanted to really put it head to head with the ION this season.

PS - The Eskimo is supposedly much lighter than the ION, so someone remind me to post the weights of each if I forget.

Keep in mind that these weights are without the battery installed. But Jesus is the e40 light! I was really impressed the couple of times I used it last season with an 8" flite. It was noticably smoother than my ION Alpha. The new Pistol Bit 2.0 is basically a red ION Alpha flite as it uses the ION Turbo blades. It's noticably lighter than the ION (my son confirmed before I told him weights or what I was even up to), and in a completely different league from a StrikeMaster. I'm going to run it exclusively to start the season and see how it does for speed and battery life as the ice gets thicker.

A 10" e40 Compsite auger retails for $839 with a listed weight of 14lbs (with battery) and 800" per charge on Eskimo's site. A 10" Lithium 40V Lite auger retails for $999 with a listed weight of 22lbs and 700" per charge on Rapala's site.

Go give your StrikeMaster a hug if you have one. It needs it...

[SNAPFisher]

Yeah, if I get the e40 it would be used at the beginning of the ice year for sure. Have you cut ice with it yet?

Also hoping the next heater they are shipping works.

[AlbertanGP]

Originally Posted by SNAPFisher

Yeah, if I get the e40 it would be used at the beginning of the ice year for sure. Have you cut ice with it yet?

Also hoping the next heater they are shipping works.

I haven't used the new 10" Pistol Bit 2.0...they were just released this season. I'm not in any rush to get out on what little ice there is just to say I did it and post a picture of a 10" trout. I'll wait until the real fishing begins.

[Curtsyneil]

The ion will out perform the e 40 hands down. You will regret upgrading the e40 to the 10 inch flight. That will be the difference you will find why the ion will out perform the e40. As for the heat hog schick clearly says there junk but the customer service is great but towards the end of his season last year he was running buddy's again that's enough evidence to tell me there no good.he only uses things that he believes are good products and if it's off his channel it's because he doesn't trust the product.

[AlbertanGP]

Originally Posted by Curtsyneil

The ion will out perform the e 40 hands down. You will regret upgrading the e40 to the 10 inch flight. That will be the difference you will find why the ion will out perform the e40.

What is your insight based on, given that the Pistol Bit 2.0 was just released? I don't necessarily disagree, but I'm pretty sure you haven't actually run a 10" e40 on any significant thickness of ice. I've run an Alpha and the e40 with the 8" Pistol Bit and I preferred the e40...that's real world hands-on experience. I'm not expecting the e40 to be better. But it might be close enough that I take a slight decrease in performance to save lugging another 3lbs around all day. Anyways, not disagreeing but I want some facts not internet conjecture.

As for the heat hog schick clearly says there junk but the customer service is great but towards the end of his season last year he was running buddy's again that's enough evidence to tell me there no good.he only uses things that he believes are good products and if it's off his channel it's because he doesn't trust the product.

If you want to blindly follow a social media influencer around be my guest. I sat in my Resort for 40 minutes on Bistcho last March trying to light one of my two Big Buddys in -30 weather. Don't talk to me about the outstanding build quality of Mr. Heater products...

Again, give me your real world experience. Not some anecdotes you came across on YouTube.

[Curtsyneil]

Originally Posted by AlbertanGP

What is your insight based on, given that the Pistol Bit 2.0 was just released? I don't necessarily disagree, but I'm pretty sure you haven't actually run a 10" e40 on any significant thickness of ice. I've run an Alpha and the e40 with the 8" Pistol Bit and I preferred the e40...that's real world hands-on experience. I'm not expecting the e40 to be better. But it might be close enough that I take a slight decrease in performance to save lugging another 3lbs around all day. Anyways, not disagreeing but I want some facts not internet conjecture.



If you want to blindly follow a social media influencer around be my guest. I sat in my Resort for 40 minutes on Bistcho last March trying to light one of my two Big Buddys in -30 weather. Don't talk to me about the outstanding build quality of Mr. Heater products...

Again, give me your real world experience. Not some anecdotes you came across on YouTube.

I've used both augers and the ion alpha is better in my opinion. I never had any problems with my big buddy but will have to say -30 cam be tough on anything!!!!

[JohninAB]

I have had my Big Buddy heater for at least 7 years now. It rides laying on its back in my sled 100% of the time. I am sure it bounces quite nicely when I drop my sled off my tailgate, has had snow in it after some fast paced snow rides behind the snowmobile and been in the cold 24/7 as my ice shelter stays in the box of my truck all winter and it has never failed to light.
Fan still works as it should too.

In my real world experience, it has been awesome.

[AlbertanGP]

Originally Posted by JohninAB

It rides laying on its back in my sled 100% of the time.

That's 100% the main cause of failure with any of these heaters...but you sound like you already know that since you brought it up and dropping it off the back of your truck. Laying them on their back and jolting them typically leads to the ceramics breaking sooner rather than later. I'm glad you haven't had it happen, but be careful. Murphy says it will happen at the worst possible moment.

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by AlbertanGP

That's 100% the main cause of failure with any of these heaters...but you sound like you already know that since you brought it up and dropping it off the back of your truck. Laying them on their back and jolting them typically leads to the ceramics breaking sooner rather than later. I'm glad you haven't had it happen, but be careful. Murphy says it will happen at the worst possible moment.

That’s why I bring two cuz after 40km’s one way of farmer fields, ditches, road crossings, uneven ice etc poop happens.
Funny though even in extreme cold like -30 or below our little buddy heater starts easily but the bigger one is always grumpy. Both use the little bottles etc and get filled from the same propane tank, not sure why but once the little one gets started and the other heater gets warm it starts as advertised.
Seen people use a torch to help heat up the element too.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[AlbertanGP]

Dozens of videos online of cleaning & maintenance/won't light/won't stay lit videos for Mr. Heater products. Personally, if you've never had an issue with one, you're not quite as hardcore a user as you think you are.

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by AlbertanGP

Dozens of videos online of cleaning & maintenance/won't light/won't stay lit videos for Mr. Heater products. Personally, if you've never had an issue with one, you're not quite as hardcore a user as you think you are.

That one day when we walked out on the ice in -30 with a good breeze once we got the tent set up the big buddy was grumpy, started the little buddy and ten minutes later had the big one going once it warmed up.
Dam that was a cold one but comfy in the tent.
Fine line between hardcore and just plum local!
I fine myself on the edge myself and often ask myself what the heck were you thinking, ahhh trying to catch fish!



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Wapiti340]

Dec 28th/2021 a friend and I drove to cold lake it was -47 with the wind chill. If I didn't keep the RPM up in my diesel truck it wouldn't generate enough heat to keep the front window thawed enough to safely drive even with the front bra fully closed. Anyways early ice we were walking out and agreed we had one chance to get out to about 60' of water, get the tent set up, and the heater going. We kept the buddy in the truck till we were ready to go and I carried a 1lber in my jacket on the walk out to use first. We carried a small propane torch and some bbq lighters as well. Once the Insulated otter was up and the heater was going we sat inside and caught lakers for most of the day . I even looked at what the pour point of my trucks oil was to see if it would flow after sitting all day but, the ol girl started right up. Cant wait for first Ice!

[Battery]

Bought a Frabill VYPR Aerated tip up this summer. Pretty stoked. I'm sure the battery will last about 10 minutes in the cold, but it'll keep me entertained for those 10 minutes.

[Prairiewolf]

I just ordered (via an Amazon Prime Day deal I might add) an Eyoyo Underwater Fish Camera.

I run a simple Vexilar flasher already, but I think the camera will be a nice compliment without breaking the bank (the camera was <$200 CAD).

[AlbertanGP]

Originally Posted by 58thecat

That one day when we walked out on the ice in -30 with a good breeze once we got the tent set up the big buddy was grumpy, started the little buddy and ten minutes later had the big one going once it warmed up.
Dam that was a cold one but comfy in the tent.
Fine line between hardcore and just plum local!
I fine myself on the edge myself and often ask myself what the heck were you thinking, ahhh trying to catch fish!



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Don't worry you meet my criteria for hardcore based on days fished alone.

P.S. That was a fun day with you and Egymcara. Hope to make it over again this season.

[AlbertanGP]

Originally Posted by Wapiti340

Dec 28th/2021 a friend and I drove to cold lake it was -47 with the wind chill. If I didn't keep the RPM up in my diesel truck it wouldn't generate enough heat to keep the front window thawed enough to safely drive even with the front bra fully closed. Anyways early ice we were walking out and agreed we had one chance to get out to about 60' of water, get the tent set up, and the heater going. We kept the buddy in the truck till we were ready to go and I carried a 1lber in my jacket on the walk out to use first. We carried a small propane torch and some bbq lighters as well. Once the Insulated otter was up and the heater was going we sat inside and caught lakers for most of the day . I even looked at what the pour point of my trucks oil was to see if it would flow after sitting all day but, the ol girl started right up. Cant wait for first Ice!

Always a smart idea to carry a 1lb bottle to get a Buddy going. That has saved my bacon many days.

[AlbertanGP]

Originally Posted by Battery

Bought a Frabill VYPR Aerated tip up this summer. Pretty stoked. I'm sure the battery will last about 10 minutes in the cold, but it'll keep me entertained for those 10 minutes.

I've used Ice Defense units for years. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised how long the batteries last.

[AlbertanGP]

Originally Posted by Prairiewolf

I just ordered (via an Amazon Prime Day deal I might add) an Eyoyo Underwater Fish Camera.

I run a simple Vexilar flasher already, but I think the camera will be a nice compliment without breaking the bank (the camera was <$200 CAD).

I don't think I've ever heard anything bad about that camera. Even better to get it on Prime Day.