Lure of Choice

[90x]

Soft plastics are beast! They can be anything. Therefore you have a better choice of selection. Also, they stay in the strike zone longer and you can fish them almost anyway. You can jig soft plastics, you can swim soft plastics and you can fish them on the top water. Hence, soft plastics are a very broad title to put on baits.

[SDoolittle]

Spinnerbait. If I am fishing a lake completely new to me, a bait that covers alot of water quickly is my choice (aka search bait). A spinnerbait works well, and does this job nicely. When I find the hotspots in the lake, I can come back later and work the spots with a slower presentation such as a jig or soft plastic. I am not too concerned about catching fish when I am covering the lake with my spinnerbait, I am more concerned about finding what spots are holding the fish, so I know where I should be spending most of my time with the slower presentations. Though at times, they go crazy for the spinnerbait/faster presentations, and the slower presentations just don't work as well. All in all, I'd searchbait the place out, and then come back and refish it with a jig or t-rigged plastic.

The question was about fishing a pond. I don't think you really need a search bait. There's only so many places a fish can go in a pond.

[larrybass]

Yup, I'm with the other boys that said big worms will do the job, as long as they're black or motor-oil...   Oh ya, I love those 10 inch long and fairly fat floaters that I'd add a split shot or two up the line a few inches, if I need to sink that puppy much.  

Rampaging big mouths just slaughter these snake-like plastics and have even been known to frighten grown men, with their viciousness, when hog Bass are in attack mode, in close quarters.  

Top quality 5 or 6/0 wide gap hook, Texas rigged all the way...

cheers,

[KYntucky Warmouth]

I would say a worm or jig from the choices but some valid choices were left out....I.E. Swimbait, Crankbait, Crappie Jig

[old bassman]

Culprit Pumpkin speed worm any size.

[Flippin & Pitchin]

I fish a pond close to my house where me and a friend have each pulled a 9 pounder out of.

Both were caught on a T-Rig with a 1/16 oz. Red Shad 7.5 inch worm. So I would have to say that is my pick.

[cbfishalot]

Jig

[deermaster]

i am pretty new to bass fishing, but since i have gotten serious about fishing t rigs, that would be my choice.  everytime i have used em this year, i have atleast gotten some hits, my hookset timing needs work, but the t rigged plastic worm has ALWAYS done its job.