I would have to say that the most effective multi species lure for freshwater (at least for me) was the original wooden Helin's Flatfish. I think I caught just about every species that inhabited SE Massachusetts on this lure in the 1960's and 1970's.

Other versatile lures would include an Al's Goldfish and a plain old 1/8 - 1/4 oz black bucktail jig (with or without a curly tailed trailer).

 

More recently here in SW FLA I've caught numerous species on a 1/4 oz tandem Spinnerbait.

 

In saltwater, its tough to beat a Bomber swimmer. It will catch just about any fish that feeds on smaller fish.

All I would need is one. A 1/8 oz. jig head with a 3" curly tailed grub on the back.

I have tried the Walking Worms and caught fish, but i guess its time to try the Snake... I'll probably order some this summer, and try them out at a pond up the road. You never know, it might actually catch a fish.

I have a hunch that the snake wont do much good on my waters.   Ive watched numerous water snakes swim past when fishing, and have to see any of them snatched by a fish.

Small curly tail grub, inline spinner, Beetle Spin.

1 Small Inline Spinner

2 Mid sized Curly tail grub on Jighead

3 Large Inline Spinner

These three baits could probably catch most of the fish that you listed.

1 curl tail grub on jig head

2   Strike King  rocket shad

3 1/8 ounce C.C. jigging spoon

Spot on.

Funny but I was going to mention float and fly but I didn't think anyone would know what I was referring to, so I went with inline spinners.

Flies with floats (and/or) weights on a spinning rod will catch just about anything....top to bottom as you mentioned.

 

 

The cool part about the float n fly. Very few people throw it, nor do they understand its fish catching capabilities. 

This is a pretty old thread, but I’ve been thinking about this alot…

 

-tiny inline spinner

-tiny silver spoon

-tiny translucent paddletail w/tiny jig head

 

I’ve found I get more diversity in species and sizes using 1/16oz lures and 2” paddletails.

 

 

 

mushroom jig head 1/16

 

1.missile bait ned bomb

2.gene larew inch worm

3.big bite limit maker worm

Panther martin inline

ned rig

rapala original floating minnow

Mepps Comet

 

I've caught bluegill, crappie, trout, bass and pike on those.

Whether you want to catch a lot of fish or a lot of different fish, the answer is always the Ned Rig.

Banjo minnow

Helicopter lure

flying lure

 

 

 

 

-Rapala Original floater F05 in Rainbow Trout

 - Beetle Spin 

 - Rooster Tail

Charlie brewer 1.5” grub on a 1/16 jig.
White 2” tube jig w/insert under float.

Gulp 3” minnow, split-shot rigged.

In a lake I fish often, in a single day on a Ned rig, I caught;

 

Largemouth bass

smallmouth bass

flathead catfish

channel catfish

warmouth

green sunfish

rainbow trout

walleye

drum

yellow perch

white bass

wiper

white crappie

 

and a partridge in a pear tree. 

I'll take just one....Mepps Comet Mino but if I HAD to add one more?  YoZuri Snap Bean Chrome/Blue

A hair jig. 
spoon 

Original floating minnow. 

 

Since we're in winter, I can think of a time when I got some big bass to take a larger Rooster Tail. I was casting out, yanking off the bottom and letting it fall, like a jigging spoon or blade bait. 

On 12/11/2021 at 3:29 PM, UNC1078 said:

Panther martin inline

ned rig

rapala original floating minnow

The floating minnow is a good one! Such a versatile lure that will catch everything 

Curly tail grub or a fuzze grub tipped with bait. 

Jig & grub

Floating jerkbait

Spinnerbait

 

And yes, I won't be catching panfish with those three but I don't care.  I am not going to downsize to catch a fish I don't want to catch.  If the water is northern and sterile I'd swap out the spinner bait for a silver minnow or other spoon, but I've made plenty of trips where those three do nearly all of the work up in the BWCA.

A spoon is probably the most universal when comes to bigger species.  If you want to catch little stuff, then a small marabou or bucktail jig would work.

Mepps inline spinner bait.  I have caught a ton of different fish on this bait. Most consistent bait for multiple species.

 

Next would be, a 4in senko.  I have caught all in the sameday> walleye, large mouth, small mouth, a blue cat and a channel cat, drum/sheaphead, warmouth, stripped bass/wiper and crappie.