I was reading I can troll with my big motor at about 2.5 to 3.5mph. Can I use deep diving crank baits for stripers. Ones that dive 10-15ft... if so any suggestions. First time trying it, wife wants to try our luck at stripers. Usually we are catfishing in the winter.

Many white bass, hydrids, and stripers are caught trolling deep diving crank baits, umbrella rigs, or downriggers at around that speed. Just have to play with different deep diving crank baits and how much line to let out behind the boat. I would get some deeper 20-25 foot crank baits to try too and pull a variety of them behind boat. Can also try using a swim bait on a heavy 1-2 ounce weight and troll that way too. Some ideas to play with.

Thanks for the help and info.

I have trolled deep Redfins successfully for hybrids , I feel certain stripers would like them also. I liked the chrome colors

MO

Check out youtube for videos on trolling with a Hellbender and Pet spoon. That's probably the classic way to troll for stripers.

As D Miner said, trolling a hellbender with a pet spoon or striper jig on a 3 ft leader tied to the hook eye of the hellbender closest to the blade is the best all time set up. Cut the hooks off the Hellbender. If i am trolling a deep diving crank bait by itself I have the best luck with chrome sides and black top. Other colors just don't catch fish for me. Find a good sandy bottom and troll at a depth the lure bounces along the bottom. You will lose some lures to hang ups, but bouncing it along the bottom will produce many more fish than trolling deep water where the lure never hits bottom. Trolling in 20 ft of water is my preference when using the hellbender/pet spoon set up.

Timmychanga use to always say trolling and bouncing the crank bait off bottom was deadly in the middle of summer so that is a great tip to point out.

I use Rapala Shad Rap 07 and 08 and the Precision Trolling app. it tells you how much line to let out to get the lure at a certain depth no matter speed. it has info for many different lures.

https://precisiontrollingdata.com/

I'm using Small 5 arm 6.5" umbrella rig from my kayak on Texoma. With 3 inch - 1/4oz 4 side runners, and heavy 5 inch - 1oz center runner. Works good in the mornings on 12 -15ft from Texas side by the dam or along the rocks. Also on Oklahoma side from West Burnside. There I use some time large Cranks what bumps some time of the sandy bottom and that where I'm caching good size Stripers and Blues. So on the Boat it will be much easier for you to troll, you just need to go slow and fine your way how far behind you troll your Umbrella or Cranks, single or with down rigger.
Tight Lanes🎣🎣

I use a deep diving crank bait with the pet spoon. I've had a lot of success with this. Just hook the leader for the pet spoon to the front hook ring.

I use a deep diving crank bait with the pet spoon. I've had a lot of success with this. Just hook the leader for the pet spoon to the front hook ring.

Wow. Thanks for all the help, trying my luck tomorrow on texoma. First time trying it.

I personally don’t care for trolling. I’ve always had better luck this time of year using slabs with a jig above them

Found a spot after catching some live bait. Had 5 hookups on live shad but lost 3.. 2 had rod bent over into the water, one was a 13 inch striper that we did get into the boat. Did more scouting than fishing, first time on lake. Stopped at the marina had a beer and lunch. Was really hot and wife made a mistake and took a sleeping pill instead of an acid reflux pill so we headed in. I did end up trolling about 400 yards to truck, had 1 bite but he got off. Second one wasn't so lucky. A little sandbass about 7 inches. Both fish went back in water.. we are going to try again soon. Need to find away to keep shad alive longer. Saw a video about using salt. I did see not to use regular table salt.

Curious, what size and type of hooks do yall use for live bait. The 2 that got off I'm sure were large catfish. I used the same poles we use for our trophy cats and it had the same bend, wife couldn't get it out of the rod holder.