Try Norman DD-22's at 3-3.5mph

Try "fish seekers" from cabelas or bass pro. I chose this route because of the exspense of downriggers. I think they are a very good alternative and they work.
Good Luck......

Quick question, does trolling or downrigging work year round? I know downrigging works great in the hot summer months but what about the other months?

Trolling the bait a few feet above the fish works, but not all of the time. So using a method that gets the bait where you need it and at the correct speed, works. There are lots of helpful tools to make trolling easier and more effective. But when the fish are not biting trolling is boring.

At least with jigging and casting you are busy. It is a tradeoff, great big fish is the reward for trolling, sometimes all day for two fish and two hookups but they get off, just depends. Not for everyone. Not for me everyday.

Thinwall130, can you expand on your experience with these. please? What speeds, line type. rod angle, etc. Success stories? I have one, but have not harnessed the power yet.
Thanks

brandon I have not had any luck trolling in the winter.fish move very slow in cold water and will not "chase" baits thus Deadsticking in winter I only fish my downriggers late may after the live bait bite slows untilmid to late septwhen water cools back down and the thermocline dissipates then it's live bait and then deadsticking time.
karp buster It will help if you locate the fish BEFORE you start trolling.I will always try to find a area the is holding fish before dropping the lines down. saves a lot of time

to some research on core lead line at cabela's or bass pro shop. its used for trolling only.

Thanks Jolsson. I was wondering if trolling in the winter would be successful especially for stripers since they are a cold water fish. I remember in college, I went with a friend on Buchanan in Feb and we killed them freeline trolling shadraps around the mouth of silver creek. Could have been just a fluke.

trolls are tough to catch ... they put up a great fight

Seems to me that a dipsey diver or jet diver should do the trick if you don't have downriggers. Just run a decent amount of line off the back of the diver to give some separation.

brandon. we have not been so lucky here at t-wok I wish I could catch em downrigging all year we start trophy catfishing as soon as the shad start bunching up and we deadstick for stripers in winter too. It is a fun way to catch stripers ..light line and tackle and a VERY soft tap and the fight is on !!!!!!!Good luck and great fishing !!

they were probably headed up stream to try to spawn they usually spawn in feb.. I don't know if they actually reproduce in bucannon or not ....anyhow they will do up creek to try

I think you can have much succes trolling without downriggers.
I troll t-wok alot and have caught stripers up to 12 pounds and hybrids up to 8 pounds and lots of whites over 2 pounds by trolling at slow speeds in 5-14 foot of water. I have caught them on a variety of lures....depends on what they want that given day. Most of the fish caught was on a pet spoon size 12 bought at academy. I like using a deep diving crank bait like a H2O lure sold at Academy and take the hooks off. Tie a 3-5 foot leader on the back of the deep diving crank bait and then tie your pet spoon to the other end. Cover some area...i also like trolling some of the spin baits from Moes tackle- have caught some nice fish. I like the bomber lure lines as well.. usually white with a crank bait that dives 6-10 feet. These fish caught are not super deep--but in the fall and spring you can reach them using these methods very well. Even in the summer you can find some fish doing these if you cover area.

They migrate up the lake starting in Jan/Feb TPWD says that stripers don't spwn in Buchanan, however I talked to a biologist once that said that under ideal conditions it is possible for stripers to spawn. In order for it to happen the Colorado has to be up and flowing. He said that stripers need something like 20miles of river/current to spawn successfully.