What is the best overall year-round lure and rig.

I'm voting for a six inch  Texas rigged Manns Jelly Worm .

Since you specify plastic it's Easy. The Texas rig plastic worm. You can go ahead and close this topic

The lowly soft plastic worm by far.

Tom

It's a T- rigged worm for largemouth or a tube for smallmouth, without a doubt, 

57 minutes ago, Mundo318 said:

What is the best overall year-round lure and rig.

First Off,  Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~

Secondly, "Year Round" can be quite different in the North, South, East & out West.

So naming ONE soft plastic rig for everything every where all the time  . . Tricky Business.

I'll go with a the grub & jighead combo - it can be an all seasons deal and it seems to travel well.

A-Jay

Not so fast....

 

This grub ....paddle tail or curly tail?

shakey head or ol' ned

If I had to pick just one for all season it would be close race. Either a 4.5" straight tail finesse worm or a 5" Senko, but for me it would be the finesse worm simply because it does a better job in cold water than the Senko.

3 hours ago, edfitzvb said:

Not so fast....

 

This grub ....paddle tail or curly tail?

LOL ~ Curly of course - like I like my Fries . . . .

A-Jay

3 hours ago, rangerjockey said:

shakey head or ol' ned

Those are techniques

You can generally find a jig style that will fit any situation, including through a hole in the ice, that will catch.

Stick worms, aka Senko or YUM Dinger. No doubt!

Here in the stretch between Dallas, TX and Oklahoma I have great success with the pitboss creature bait. Texas rigged with 1/4oz bullet weight.

The 4.5" and 6" Straight Tail Worms. On a #1. Dropshot,  #2. Split Shot, #3. Mini Carolina Rig...

If i could only use one soft plastic it would be a beaver style bait. Because I can t-rig, shakeyhead it, and use it as a jig trailer.

My choice for my waters is a swimbait on a jig head. 2-4 inches long. Works every part of the water column and can be fished as slow or fast as you like.

Ill let you in on my secret bait. 5" weightless senko.  

works well but gets boring after a bit. great follow up bait.

 

11 hours ago, JayKumar said:

Stick worms, aka Senko or YUM Dinger. No doubt!

Agreed, I will throw either of these any time of the year 

Baby Brushhog.  

When my buddy throws a t-rigged culprit, that's98% of the time, I t-rig a money craw.Different action works well.

I agree with the worms.A great bait for numbers with the occasional bigger fish is the Yamamoto 4 inch senko.

Zoom salty super flukes are great too.

I toss a black fluke year round while fishing shallow. If I need something on the bottom I am using a Texas rigged beaver or creature bait. 

6-7 inch plastic worm, gambler,zoom,culprit. texas rigged,weighted or unweighted . whatever the fish want.

Welcome aboard!

For me, in Virginia (and any other state I've visited),
the 4" Senko or knock off from BPS is probably tops.

However, this year it has been that AND the Yamamoto
Shad Shaped Worm (also 4") mainly rigged drop shot,
but often wacky, too.