Hit Gull for a short go today mostly for an exploration mission.  Couldn't believe how much ice there is for early February.  There isn't a pile of snow on the ice and yet my auger was bottomed right out in a couple places.  I've bottomed the auger out before but it has always squeeked through.  This year is gonna be different I think, glad I bought an extension last year and I'm sure it's actually going to get used soon. 
       If anyone is thinking about getting one probably not a bad idea to do so sooner than later.  Going to be a shortage of them come late season I think.

 The most ice I have seen south of the Trans Canada
  was at CVR ....a few years ago ......37" 
   I haven't been out since before Xmas , I have
    A 14" ext for  the  Ion .
     In the 70 s on the south end of Lk. Winnipeg
      a Reg Jiffy ext would not go through .
       So I took the  Reg 16" ext to my buddy
        who worked at the Selkirk Steel Mill .
        he made me a 48" ext..
         I was clever enough to take a 6 ft. Step
        ladder . Definite 2-3 man operation .
         One to steady the ladder , one to man the bit ,
          And motor man .
          Just shy of 60" and growing ...at 70 " to soft to cut.
          The other essential was a 6' gaff ...
          I can't decide if I was a lot younger then or just nuts .