Witchita,

The date the trip is to take place is important. Stripers do have feeding patterns and behaviors depending on time of year, which then dictates the tactics you must use to get them, which in turn dictates what type of gear to go with.

Are you looking to fish at night for the topwater bite, or trying to catch them surface feeding in the jumps, interested in bottom fishing for them, or trolling live bait, or trolling artificial baits at depth under downriggers? See what I mean? The time of year, tells you how to fish, and then what gear you need to support that.

For this reason, I completely agree with hiring a guide for a first time trip. I did.

We'd agree Dad will be a winner in his accountants eye's if they get on some fish, and land a few for photo opportunities, right? And a bonus would be learning something about the fish species, the equipment it takes to catch them, the tactics it takes during certain times of the year, the lake, and even the boat type that can make fishing for Stripers a bit easier, or more comfortable. For these reason's, I'd also recommend hiring a guide.

Now lets put the 2 ideas together. You and Dad hire a guide and go alone BEFORE the accountant trip. Learn first hand what it takes to do it right, then armed with that knowledge, outfit Dad's boat, and get the gear you now have seen in action. Then Dad takes the accountant out by himself and demonstrates his new found, guide taught knowledge. Dad will look like an expert. And the bonus is if the first trip goes well, when the accountant wants to go again, Dad will be set up with the gear and knowledge to be a winner again.

Best wishes!