I think over the 35+ years that I've been fishing, I've caught more fish on
a. Live bait
b. a cheap white spinner bait (2-3 bucks at Wally World). They may not have all been monsters but, I've caught everything from a 5 pound largemouth to crappie and bluegills with them.

I've also had luck with white in-line spinners(rooster tails)and beetle spins in ponds.