Well as the topic states, I was interested in what everyone goes to when everything they seem to be throwing fails them.  For me personally I would have to say a 1-2inch white grub on a 1/16 oz jig head.  Seems to catch anything and everything.

jointed rapala shad rap...whether the water is 38 degrees (like today) or 70 degrees in the summer, this lure produces when all else fails.  For me anyway..

Usually a 4in BPS Stik-o on a 1/16 shaky head. Seems to always produce. Lately though, it's been my Spro Aruku Shad in perch color.

Watermelon seed colored fluke rigged any way that works for the current situations.   

Pitching a 3/8 oz. booyah boo jig w/ a berkley chigger craw as a trailer in and around cover. Always produces for me, even in the heat of the summer. 

Hrrmm, I'd have to say Husky Jerk (HJ12) in silver.  It's a bait I fish year round and can elicit fish into.  I guess it just goes along the lines of use what you're confident in.

6 inch purple robo worm.... catches fish no matter how bad the conditions are.

Smokin Shad colored Fluke.  8lb fluoro, swivel, 3/0 Gamakatsu EWG.  Catches fish 60% of the time....ALL THE TIME

Stickbait (senko) wacky rigged, any color for the conditions but my favs are watermelon chart flake, Green Pumpkin Gold flake, or salt and pepper!

Drop shot.

Think about what you're asking.  If your "go to bait" is what you use when ALL ELSE fails., then why not just start out using it?

Usually a 3/8 green pumkin jig. I think i'm going to start throwing chiggercraws a lot more though.

Think about what you're asking. If your "go to bait" is what you use when ALL ELSE fails., then why not just start out using it?

What's the fun in that?  ;D  I wanna catch bass how I wanna catch bass. 

A 4.5" straight tail Roboworm, on a shaky jig is my fail-safe.

Texas Rigged Gene Larew 7 ½ Salty Ring Worm Cinnamon Pepper Neon/June Bug Laminated (Camouflage).

Mustad 3/0 Straight Shank Denny Brauer Flipping Hook P/N:32807BLNU32

3/16 oz. Bullet weight (painted black)

Berkley Big Game 15# Mean Green

I don't have one.  Have yet to find a bait that works well in all seasons, under all conditions.

Some will only produce well at certain times.  Others may produce during more conditions, but I have none that consistently outfish all the other baits I have.

If they did, I'd fish that lure/bait exclusively.  I try to find what the fish want, not force feed them the bait I want to use.

I do have a few "favorites".  But, there are times I will not even try them.

1/4oz finesse jig, natural color, 3" matching craw trailer

4 or 5 inch straight tailed worm on shakey jig

Think about what you're asking. If your "go to bait" is what you use when ALL ELSE fails., then why not just start out using it?

There is no fun in catching fish one way all the time. I like fishing new ways and learning new things and styles of fishing

Think about what you're asking. If your "go to bait" is what you use when ALL ELSE fails., then why not just start out using it?

who wants to use a senko all the time?

Culprit crawdad worm.

3" Senko or Dinger on a 1/16 oz Mushroomhead jig, great bait for tough conditions.

Zoom Trick Worm.

1. Shaky head Strike King 3X Finesse worm (dirt or black/blue)

2. Weightless 3/0 EWG Gama Strike King 3X Zero (new money/junebug) 

a 3/8ths oz spinnerbait with the skirt replaced with a 3 1/2" pearl with chartreuse back money minnow. silver willow gold colorado.

The lakes I fish:

Dropshot

Jigs

Shakeyhead

What I fish 90% of the time:

Jigs

Dropshot

Shakeyhead

The other 10%:

cranks, ripbaits, swimbaits

I have fun trying different lures and techniques, but if I get nothing, I will revert to my younger years and throw a beetlespin. It will almost always produce at least a strike.