My best effective lure of all time was / is a

[GRiver]

Plastic worm rigged Texas style has caught more fish for me than all the other tackle I own. 

[Smells like fish]

Being a creek fisherman, it is the jerkbait, balsa model all year long

[Bankc]

Shad Rap 05.  I don't like throwing them because they're so light, get caught up in grass too easily, and only go to one depth.  But if I fish one long enough, I can usually boat at least one bass just about any day of the year.  

[roadwarrior]

Largemouth: 5" Senko

 

Smallmouth: Rage Menace

Close second: Gitzit, baby diaper yellow

[lunkerboss923]

Winter...Zoom Finesse Worm on a 1/16oz shakyhead 

 

Spring...Chatterbait or Spinnerbait 

 

Summer...Swim jig 

 

Fall...buzzbait 

[N Florida Mike]

80s- 90s : Red shad culprit worm 

2000s on : Zoom super fluke in watermelon seed or watermelon red.

Senkos/dingers are a fairly close 2nd in recent years.

[Captain Phil]

#1 Zoom Trick worm rigged any way possible.  #2 Spinnerbait.  #3 Rattle Trap. Followed by Zoom Fluke and Devil's Horse,

[FrnkNsteen]

Spinnerbait for me without a doubt because of how many different ways you can fish it. My two largest bass have come on them. After that,... Senko (Texas rigged or wacky) or a tube.

[crypt]

plastic worm,junebug or red shad......

[Mat_ski]

4 inch keitech swing impact 

[RDB]

21 hours ago, Mike L said:

Magnum UV Speed Worm

Speed worms and Florida go together like PB&J.  Seems like every tournament angler has one on deck.

[PressuredFishing]

Soft plastics

[LonnieP]

Texas rigged worm 

runner up would be lipless crankbait 

[JbroBass]

Mann's purple Jelly Worm Texas rigged. 

[papajoe222]

In my early years, it was a plastic worm on a true Texas Rig.  For the last 35+yrs. it's been a Jig/Craw combo. When I kept a log, there were years when it outproduced all others combined.  Can you tell I throw a jig a lot?

[Deephaven]

A frog...but sadly not near where I live

 

[CrashVector]

Powerbait pit boss Texas rigged with a pegged 1/8oz weight.

[WVU-SCPA]

It's going to take awhile to "catch up to" the amount of pond bass reeled in on a Bass Assassin fluke as a kid.  Pond hoping with a pack and a few hooks would lead to a raw thumb.

 

In public water, a ned style bait is various retrieves is on the fastest pace to catch those worn out flukes.

[Big Swimbait]

Cabin Creek Spider Parts on a 1/8 oz jig head- just a mini Hula Grub. But with a separate skirt I can mix/match any combination. With the one thick tentacle, you can rig it weedless.

[FishTank]

Senko 5in, Black with Blue Flake or Green Pumpkin Black Flake. 

[Munkin]

Years ago it was a 4.5" Sluggo in Alewife.

 

Allen

[Lasher]

On 5/7/2022 at 7:33 PM, cyclops2 said:

 

 Mepps Comet LARGE Size.  1 of a few lures that could cause multi hits. 

 

This.  Mepps/In-line spinners are the most effective and versatile lure ever made.  Most of the responses are for bass fishing, but in-line spinners catch multiple species in every body of water on earth.  They are they only lure I know that catch fish in a creek/stream, river, pond, lake, inlet, estuary and the d**n ocean.  Not known for big fish, but something about this basic spinner somehow out produces everything else.

 

If you are only talking bass fishing,  then a T-Rig worm is my guess.

[cyclops2]

My LMB are all AMBUSHERS  hiding under docks & boats. Some are VERY experienced  C & R  fish.  

[Chris Catignani]

4" Slider worm rigged on 1/8th Slider Head. Motor oil is one of the best colors.

[Skunkmaster-k]

Purple worm