I'm sure there are some lakes (Dale Hollow for example) where downriggers are more suitable than planer boards. But for stripers on the systems I've fished, downriggers are just not feasible. The fish frequently hold tight on rockpiles and other cover that breaks current very near the bank - almost like bass. You need the planer to get in tight on the cover while your boat is in the channel - a few feet off the cover can make the difference between success and a day without a hit.
The fish aren't necessarily very deep, and if you run right over their heads with a downrigger set to 8 to 10 feet, you're just going to scatter the fish you're trying to catch.
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