Run the bait to the side of the boat. They can also be used bank fishing along moving water. You can hook it to your line let place it in the water and the current will pull you bait all the way cross the stream if you let it.

They work well for walleye in Erie. Strippers should be an advantage.

I am certainly no expert, but I would recommend a leader no longer than your rod. I use one about 4-5' long and prefer 20 lb fluorocarbon. I use nothing other than 2/0 Gamakatsu octopus or octopus circle hooks. I run three boards off of each side (Offshore) and usually 2 back lines with release floats (that you can pick up at the Bass Pro in Jamestown or the one on US 90) and at least 1 down line. I Carolina rig all of my rods using egg sinkers and Offshore Tackle crane swivels. I vary my speed and my depth until I find something that works. Why don't you have access to live bait? Shiners that you can purchase at the bait houses work, just not as well as the Alewives. I also pull a lot of umbrella rigs. I use 30-40 lb big game line on 9' dipsy diver rods with fairly large line counters (25's and 30's). I use the Cumberland Pro spinner jigs exclusively. I recommend going to their site and checking them out. You can also get set up for downrigging, but I don't use this much except in the fall when the stripers get below 40'. Otherwise, it is bait on boards or umbrella rigs in terms of trolling. Casting the banks at night in winter and spring is also productive, but it is not trolling. Some people troll minnow baits and shad baits (Gizz 4's) on leadcore and snap weights and even without any weight when they are shallow in the spring back in the creeks, but I have not done well with that. I also recommend hiring a guide for at least one trip. It is money well spent. Tell the guy in advance that you want a learning trip or you could be back at the dock in an hour with a limit.