I think now that there are about a billion lures out there to choose from, which to a new angler could be daunting! If you could only pick one what would it be? and why? 

Easy answer, a Senko by far.  Simple to rig, catches fish, works in all conditions.  

That would be my choice as well specifically a GYsenko in black and blue 

Jig,  soft plastic beaver and lizard

  Each body of water is different . Clarity , cover , structure , low-land , high-land , rock , mud...My favorite lure depends on where and when I'm fishing .

Kvd 1.5 in Tennessee shad, year round fish catcher, dirty or stained

I live in South Louisiana. I'd have to pick two - a spinnerbait and a 1/2 jig

Weightless fluke

 Buzzbait

I'd say a spinnerbait.  Close 2nd is a 3/8 or 1/2 oz skirted jig with a craw trailer.

 

Senko is probably the most universal fish catcher.  But, snooze.

Lucky Craft Sammy

Paddle tail swim thing.

Hollow body frog and a 3/4 oz jig. Big fish baits.

I have to go with the Senko guys if we're talking about LM in most bodies of water.

 

I have some favorites for SM in certain bodies of water. In the St Lawrence my favorite is a twister tail on ball head jig. In the Susquehanna I do better most often with Rebel crawfish and Beetle Spins.  

 

 

Fluke - Tried and true, no bells and whistles, made to catch fish not fisherman.  

Plastic worm

Yamamoto Fat Ika, rigged backwards. Search on YouTube 

As a category soft plastic worms including Senko's are the most universal bass lure made. Soft plastics can be rigged weightless, with several different types of weights and rigging. The same plastic worm for example can be hooked weedless, nose hooked exposed point, wacky hooked using the same rig or hook 1 way and trigged with a sliding bullet weight, pegged bullet weight, split shot, cyclinder mojo weight, drop shot weight and nail weight. All of those options can be used on standard worm, creatures, craws, Senko, Sluggo, tubes etc. the soft plastic worm has caught and will continue to catch more bass then all other lures combined.

Tom

Yep, a black and blue fleck, 5" Senko on a 4/0 Gamakstu Offset EWG Hook, tied onto 15lbs Sufix 832.

Part of the fun is trying different lures and presentations. But if I must choose only one... the Senko.

I have a handful of favorites. 4 and 5 inch Senkos, finesse trick worms and original trick worms, KVD 1.5 squarebills, 1/4oz Rat-L-Trap, Ned Rig, 75/90/110 Whopper Plopper. I fish these more than anything because they work.

All types of jigs, from Ned rigs, Bitsy Bugs, 3/8oz bass jigs.....all my favorites.

Changes by the month. This month: Zoom Ultra Vibe Speed Worm

 

Last month: 5”senko

 

ever since I’ve started fishing heavily with worms, my catch rate has gone up tenfold 

Siebert Outdoors swim jig with a Rage Tail Menace trailer. Never lets me down.

Surprised at all the senko answers. I could see if he asked for your favorite fall back lure. While they catch fish senkos are certainly not my favorite thing to fish. My answer to favorite lure consist of what I would throw if catching was a guarantee no matter the bait.

 

Spinnerbait - just fun to fish and work through cover

 

Hollow frog - solely for the way bass blow up on them. Every strike is priceless