What are your guys most productive lures for trolling in the bay. Thinking about investing in some new trolling gear for stripers.

So far in my short fishing life it would have to be a red/white stretch 25. But ive never pulled any umbrellas thinking about giving them try, i hear there pretty productive. Lets see what you guys have to say.

chartuce umbrilla with 2 gold spinner blades

Umbrellas really do work. Buy some. We also pull daisy chains which are around 7 feet long consisting of a series of 6 inch shad bodies at the top, some 9 inch shad bodies at the bottom and we weigh the whole thing down with a 32 ounce mojo on the very bottom. They are easier to reel in than umbrellas. I also like pulling a 32 ounce mojo with a 15-20 leader behind it tied to a 9 inch Storm lure. The mojo gets it deep and the Storm catches the fish. Big heavy tandem bucktail rigs catch a lot of fish too. Chartreuse and white are always good colors, but I've had years where dark green Storm lures were the ticket. Experiment. I like using Storm lures to build my own umbrella rigs and they really work well. I switch out sizes and colors till I find what they like. Kind of got carried away with the whole idea last year and ended up buying around 250 Storm lures in all sizes and colors. I doubt I will ever use them all up-but I'v got my bases covered at least. Stretches work like a champ. Chrome with the black back is my personal favorite.
Good luck

When I go out all i use are umbrella rigs. Mabey a daisy chain every now and then but other than that is all white and chartuse umbrella rigs. The fish feels alot bigger when you have an umbrella rig or daisy chain on. It's a hauss when you have a 45inch + fish on an umbrella rig that is the farthest back. Umbrella rigs produce and get the job done though. You'll love em'. Good Luck!

I will pull umbrellas and daisey chains, white or chartreuse. Have used a blue and white umbrella that was getting crushed a few weekends ago. Everything goes on a three way with mojos. 9 to 12 inch trailers and I will also throw in a crippled to change it up if nothing is biting. The crippled and the tomic will usually stir up some action.

Mark

Thanks for the input guys. Thinking about goin out tommorrow but looks like its gonna get NASTY out there.

Umbrellas are excellent but I run in line sinkers with them. Usually run three umbrellas with varying weights to cover the whole water column. Will put a fourth rig out very close to the boat with a heavy mojo and your choice of any lure and i usually use a large spoon. Stretches work but had more luck with umbrellas.

Once you get use to umbrellas take a shot at using jigs only -- you catch more fish and its more fun pulling in the fish without all the extra weight.

last year when they were starting to stack by the james river bridge we trolled stretchs 20's and 25's and when they were hitting it did not matter what color but i believed the white with black on the top of it produced the most

I've had good results with Felmlee rubber eels. Use an in line sinker to reach desired depth with 8 to 12 foot leader. When you hook up, steer away from the bridge and when you get t the leader, keep the boat in gear so that there's tension on the leader when you hand line it in.