I want to try my hand at trolling for stripers. What would be a good selection of baits to start out with? Also, are there any good You Tube videos that can give me info on the basics. I'm not that interested in just watching guys catch fish, I want to learn how to do it.
Also, anyone interested in helping me get started. I'll furnish the boat and gas. I keep my boat on Travis, but I'm not opposed to trailering it and going to another lake. The best way to learn is from someone who already knows how to do it.

Bob, I've been using Nekid Tackle Ronrigs. Usually the Texoma Edition Transformer with 1 oz. jig heads, the 4 oz. easy clip on trolling weights, and flukes or sassy shad with 90 lb. braid a lot lately. They usually run around 21 to 24 ft. deep with this setup. Ron has larger and smaller clip on weights , depending on how deep you wish to fish. I've had good luck with these this year. If you are not experienced, you might want to try some of Ron's smaller rigs that are not as expensive to start out. I lost two in the same tree at the same time on PK when I was first learning to use them. About $80. down the drain in a few minutes. It is best to start out trolling in lakes that don't have a lot of timber if you can. I have used deep diving crank baits in the past, usually idling between 2 to 3 mph, and they work pretty well also. I just have a better chance for double or triple hook-ups with the Ronrigs. If you want to come north a ways maybe I can meet you somewhere.

We use a hellpet rig like for sand bass and catch some stripers this way. I am thinking about replacing the pet spoon with a striper jig and give this a try. I don't have a downrigger so I use a hellbender for this.

Umbrella rigs work well at PK and Texoma. Down side is the price for a hang up in a tree is very high.

Another option is to use a deep diving crank bait with two 1/4 oz jigs spaced about 6 inches apart above the crankbait. If you keep your speed at around 2 mph these will go down about 20 feet. This worked well the last two years but has not worked well this year due to the cloudy water from the rain. It's not been a good year for lures, but the winner at the PK tourney won using umbrella rigs and a downrigger.

You need a 3 foot section of heavy fluorocarbon to tie the jigs to or you'll lose the crank bait if multiple fish get on. Most of the time, I'll pull in a striper with the crank bait and have both jigs bent straight where other stripers have been on. When you get two or more big stripers on with no drag between them they will bend hooks, break swivels and I've had them even break 30 LB mono.

We been pulling u-rigs way way way before they got popular. Here's what we've learned. Good heavy reels with 20 lb big game with drags set to about 5-8 lbs on a spring scale. You must have a lure retreaver. It is a MUST. Lots of videos on You tube on how to use the retreaver.

Your leaders on the u-rig, if you use leaders, should be 80-100# flouro. That the leader from the rig to the lure. Not the leader from line to rig.

DD-22's in different colors are great and Pet Spoons from #14-17 on down riggers, work well.