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Doesnt matter if its your hand or power auger. I had started my power auger up a few days ago and was packing it up tonight. The shaft/lower unit/auger was really loose. Picked up the allen wrench and tightend it down, and did the same with the blades.
Hasnt happend to me yet, but I have heard of people losing their gear down the hole. Also, loose blades cause stress and will result in cracking, if not those falling down to the bottom of the lake.
So much for the last possible post before leaving.
As I was posting the picture of the rods in the previous post, I could not remember if I had mentioned this before when discussing rods in either the walleye or panfish pieces. So just to cover the bases, here is a quick tidbit and one helpful hint.
You do not want to select a rod with a reel seat built into the handle. I know that might sound a little crazy to some people just getting into the sport, and even to some who have been in it for a few years. You want a rod with a Tennessee handle. That probably sounds even crazier, Tennessee…ice fishing? That handle’s name just describes it, and it is a handle originally designed for panfish rods in the south.
If you are having a problem finding these, ask the sales person for ice rods with a TN handle. If they give you a puzzled look, find someone worth a grain of salt and the knowledge to be able to help you select a good rod for the price you are willing to pay.
Q: What are the advantages of using this handle style?
A: This allows you the angler or even the person you are buying it for (hint, Christmas gift) to place the reel on the rod where it feels the most comfortable in his or her’s grip on the handle. Some like it forward near where the rod begins, other like a good middle position, and others like it in the rear of the handle.
Here’s the helpful hint: Your better rods have handles made of cork, but this will even help those of you who like to fish with your basic rods with the foam handles.
First step: place the reel in your hand, then cradle the rod handle in the same hand. Find the place you feel the most comfortable for the reel to be placed.
Second step: take some masking tape. Start taping around the reel just a bit wider than the base of the reel, and finish wrapping the handle just behind where the reel will be place. Make sure this is where you are sure you want the reel to be. This wrap will not be coming off, not even at the end of the season when you take the reels off.
Third step: secure the reel to the handle using electrical tape. 3M is probably the best brand, it hasn’t peeled yet in cold weather. You can use less expensive tape, and then put a last wrap of 3M over the top.
There you, go the last one, or is it? Will try to get some pics of the pups in the snow that’s left before I go.
I will try to get some pics of the pups up before I leave, but this could be my last post before leaving for Minnesota
All the rods are spooled, jigs tied on already and packed away in their Ready Rig rod cases. Have enough for sight fishing if the water is clear, and those for tightlining if its cloudy. Bringing some extras for having a little fun in the evenings.
Give me 8 good crappie, and 8 good gills each day (camera phone from last championship trip) and if the scales show enough weight my partner and I will be in line for another check. I like that part, but I like the 
competition even better. Even though you have a partner, and there will be 74 other teams going for the cash and championship ring, it still boils down to you and the fish.
Should have enough time from prefishing to catch some of these in the evenings. I try to bring some rods set up for pike, walleye and perch. Since the tournies are over @ 2pm. A lot of times we will head out after an early dinner and fish until 10 pm or so on another lake.
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