Ice Fishing Gear

7 Best Ice Fishing Scoop Skimmers


The best ice fishing scoop works to not only skim the ice out of an ice fishing hole after drilling the hole into the ice. An ice fishing skimmer also is used as a tool to help shave the ice out of a frozen-over hole.

Selecting the Best Ice Fishing Scoop

best ice fishing scoop skimmers

In this article, I go through the 7 best ice fishing scoops including:

  1. Best Plastic Ice Fishing Skimmer
  2. Best Metal Ice Skimmer
  3. Best Foldable Ice Fishing Scoop
  4. Best Extra Long Ice FIshing Skimmer
  5. Best Extendable Ice Skimmer
  6. Best Cheap Metal Scoop for Ice Fishing
  7. Best Cheap Plastic Scoop for Ice Fishing

Below is a summary of the 7 best ice fishing skimmer options, then I dive into each option a little bit more.

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Best Scoop for Ice Fishing

Best Plastic Ice Fishing Skimmer

Best Metal Ice Skimmer

Best Foldable Ice Fishing Scoop

Best Extra Long Ice Fishing Skimmer

Best Extendable Ice Skimmer

Best Cheap Metal Scoop for Ice Fishing

Best Cheap Plastic Scoop for Ice Fishing


The Frabill ice scooper is one of the best plastic ice fishing skimmers, which features a large scoop that ensures you can keep your ice fishing holes clean. It features one of the longer handles you can find and the handle will reduce the stress from bending. The 30-inch ruler located on the handle also makes it possible to measure the depth.

It is made from plastic, which might not seem durable. However, it is one of the more durable options on the market today. It has a lightweight feeling that will make it possible to scoop heavier loads of snow. The manufacturer has also thrown in a limited lifetime warranty that will give you peace of mind when using it.

Pros:

  • Includes a 30-inch ruler
  • Durable plastic
  • Large scoop diameter
  • Limited lifetime warranty

Cons:

  • No bending feature


While plastic is one of the best materials to keep the scoops lightweight, the HT Enterprises chip n dip metal ice skimmer is the best metal ice skimmer that one can use when you are willing to use something heavier. It features a 23-inch metal handle and large scoop diameter to keep the ice fishing holes clean.

Much like the previous version, it includes a ruler and the ruler will make it possible for one to measure the depth of these ice-fishing holes. The cup is 6-inches in diameter, but since it can be heaped, one can scoop more than the diameter. We have selected it for the durability and strength of the steel structure.

Pros:

  • Solid metal construction
  • 23-inch handle with a ruler
  • 6-inch scoop diameter
  • Sturdy 

Cons:

  • Slightly heavier than plastic


When you are active, you would always want to keep the storage space as little as possible. The Deep Freeze ice skimmer is one of the foldable options you can use. The best foldable ice fishing scoop can help you save some space and it features the same durable metal construction. It has a large 6-inch plastic diameter for scooping snow.

The unit is also available in three different sizes, which means you don’t need to stick to the same ice fishing holes. However, 6-inch options are perfect for most ice fishing holes. We would highly recommend it for the folding feature and the functionality. Once folded, it can be used as a stick as well in the snow.

Pros:

  • Foldable design
  • Sturdy metal construction
  • Different sizes available
  • Popular option

Cons:

  • Can be expensive

In the world of fishing, Rapala is one of the top brands and if you have ever been to a fishing store, the brand is found on almost all the shelves. When selecting the best extra long ice fishing skimmer, you can use the Rapala Mega Scoop. It features a total length of almost 88.9-inches and can be used for deeper scooping purposes.

The scoop is made from durable steel and the scooping section is made from plastic. A 30-inch ruler is located on the sides of the scoop, which makes it possible for the user to measure the depth of these ice-fishing holes. It is one of the most functional options for the top anglers that enjoy a day out of ice fishing.

Pros:

  • Large scoop design
  • 88.9-inch handle length
  • 30-inch ruler
  • Reliable brand

Cons:

  • Large holes for the snow to fall through

It is not always possible to know the thickness of the snow before you head out. However, it can often be thicker than you might have expected. The best extendable ice skimmer is one of the top options for these unexpected situations. We have selected the HT 36 Inch telescopic skimmer for the ability to reach deeper parts of snow.

The unit can be extended to various sizes of which 36-inches are the longest one can find. The telescopic metal used for the skimmer is lightweight and is also easy to carry. The scooping section of the skimmer is around 6-inches. However, there is more than one option, which means you have different options to consider.

Pros:

  • Extendable design
  • Telescopic design
  • Lightweight construction
  • Different sizes available

Cons:

  • Might often be too big

You do not always need an ice-fishing skimmer that has all the special features if you are not going to use them. The best cheap metal scoop for ice fishing is the Lakco metal ice fishing skimmer, which is durable and comes with metal construction. The scooping element will be around 6-inches to fit into most of the common ice fishing holes.

Compared to many of the others, this one can be considered to be small. The handle length is only 12-inches in total. However, you don’t need to worry about the handle being damaged. Since it does not bend, it will remove the stress from the handle. We would like to recommend it as a budget metal ice skimmer for snow scooping.

Pros:

  • 6-inch scoop
  • Affordable price
  • Solid metal construction
  • Does not bend

Cons:

  • The handle is only 12-inches

When it comes to the best cheap plastic scoop for ice fishing you can look for something small and comfortable to use. We have selected the Lacko plastic ice fishing skimmer as one of the top options for the budget buyer. It has a 6-inch scoop that ensures you can fit it into most of the ice-fishing holes you can dig up.

It has plastic construction, which makes it lightweight. However, lightweight plastic does not translate to durability. It is not designed for bending. However, it does slightly bend when the unit is too heavy. The downside is that the ice-fishing skimmer has a handle with an overall length that only spans 12-inches in total.

Pros:

  • 6-inch scoop
  • Very affordable
  • Reliable budget brand
  • Fits into most holes
  • Lightweight

Cons:

  • Only a 12-inch handle

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