What bait and technique would you choose?

Personally, I would have to go with a Texas-Rigged 6" Zoom lizard. It would be a tough call for me between black or watermelon red colors, but I think I would go with black.

Having confidence in the lure you are throwing is often even more important than throwing the "right" lure fo the time of year or conditions. What lure do you have the most confidence in?

Zoom Finesse worm in dark pumpkin or black/blue, either on a weedless jig head or a drop shot rig.  Topwater bite: Yellow Magic or Rebel Pop-R.

I use to say a white spinner bait but maybe now a fluke in watermelon or a senko in red shad.  Being older I'm fishing slower.  Less chunking spinners and crankbaits.  Top water a buzz bait or pop-r.

since you asked about what ONE lure.. mine would always be Tx rigged worm... 

Shakey head with a watermelon red finesse worm.

Seth, that's a tough one. One? Only one? Grenades are illegal, so I guess I'll have to go with a black/blue flake 7" or 8" plastic lizard. Sure am glad I don't have to limit myself like that, and still get to fish my other favorites too.

Red shad sluggo with an 1/8 ounce red gamma weighted hook. Nothing in my tackle box has caught near as much. Top water...yellow scum frog. If you haven't used one, you are missing out. 

Definately a 8" purple Lizard by Zoom. I've caught more fish at every club lake I've been to and caught Something. Without fail, this lizard has been my old faithful

my old faithful go-to bait for all conditions/ temps. Instead of topwater, I'd have to go with a barely sub-surface Jerkbait. Almost any type will do, as

long as it's Pink and Silver !

Four inch red shad Power Worm on a 1/32 oz jighead.  But then, I almost always fish ultralight with 4 lb test, this is definitely NOT suitable for heavy vegetation or wood.  Disadvantages includes limited depth (about 5 or 6 feet practical max), so when fish are really deep this doesn't work.   And a big bass goes where it wants, you have little control.   Breakoffs on hooksets are the penalty for allowing any weakness in the line, so you have to retie pretty frequently.

Advantages include very slow fall, which tempts them when they are shallow. Goes through weeds pretty well for the same reason.  Also it gets lots of hits from bluegill and small bass, which helps keep me alert for when the big one comes prowling.

And before you say, small lure = small fish, I have caught four of my five biggest bass on this rig.  You have to be lucky and patient, but it can be done.  A final advantage is that a 2 lb bass feels like a monster, and a big bluegill makes for a great fight!

It would be close between a ZOOM finese worm and a ZOOM Fluke.  At the end of the day the finesse worm would get the nod because it is just so versatile.  If I had to pick only one way of rigging it it would be weightless/wacky .  If I had to pick only one color it would be watermellon red.

My go to lure used the be a Texas rigged purple worm. Now it's a Texas rigged pumpkin Senko. My wife's favorite is a shad colored Super Fluke. Favorite top water is the Pop R, but for bigger fish, I prefer a large chartreuse/white/gold buzz bait or a shad colored Super Spook.