Which one?

If we can use grocery store baits I'm tossing a piece of bacon or smoked sausage on a #8 gamakatsu circle hook on a dropshot with a loop knot and letting it sit in a rod holder until a gill hits. One cast, one gill. Gimme my money!!! Lol

I think that could violate that billionaire's intent. ;-)

I’d probably have one of my squirrel tail hand ties built short on a 1/32 or less jighead with a #8 sickle hook. I’d have a beetle spin frame in my shirt pocket too.

Quote:

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offers you a million dollars if you catch a bluegill on the first cast. Which lures are your top five finalists that you consider and which one do you attach for that first cast?

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Note: unpainted ball head jigs 1/24 or lighter + plastics can catch anything with gills.
Note: 2" or smaller soft plastics guarantee numbers and fish from 3" to lunker
Note: color selection based on a whim
Note: thin diameter line a MUST!
Note: a slow twitch & pause retrieve a MUST!

Assumption: fish are in the spot for the first cast

I have too many favorite soft plastics to count, but after closing my eyes and doing eeny, meeny, miny, moe, these are the five - any of which could catch fish on the first cast:

1. gold pearl laminated Crappie Magnet
Attachment 498549

2. 2" curl tail grub body with tail cut off. (I recently noticed that they are being sold that way online)
Attachment 498544 Attachment 498550

2. spike/ thin stinger tail grub such a Slabinator and Bass Assassin grubs
Attachment 498545

3. thin flat-tail grub in white pearl, perch pattern (lt.) or clear plastic (rt.) that I pour
Attachment 498546 Attachment 498551

4. Paddle tail such as the Runcl (lt.) or a Sassy Shad with trimmed belly (rt.)
.Attachment 498547 Attachment 498552

5. Can't think of any others at the moment.
All I know is that after posting those fish photos I can't wait for spring to come !!!!

Berkley Gulp 1" minnow in smelt color on 1/64 oz jig.

Don't underestimate those 1" minnows, they'll catch some nice fish

https://youtu.be/tj6Irq7p5_o?si=p94HmBR0Io4Uobts

For me it would be a 1 Berkley power nymph with a 1/64 jig head. Second choice would be Trout Magnet in the Bison color. My final choice would be a black Southern Pro Bream bug.

Not until I attempted to answer did I realize how little info the question provided about the body of water. Is it muddy or clear? Is it weedy or clean? Is there brush / structure or not? Known for large bluegill or small overpopulated? So... Not knowing all that stuff, my answer changed. I prioritized something that might get a little longer cast with and that might create a little more flash or attraction. I should probably disclose that I mainly fish ponds up to about 20 acres and haven't fished lakes much.

5. Panfish magnet in bison color with supplied jig.
4. Small, plain white curl tail jig on 1/ 16 ounce jig.
3. Smallest beetle spin with black and yellow grub body.
2. Charley bee with black / chartreuse body.
1. 1/16 ounce black road runner jig with pink Berkeley power nymph.

All that said, I've had really good luck with a lot of others and I have a nagging suspicion that most lures will work fine most of the time when presented the right way in the right location.

1/32oz beetle spin with a 1" piece of green pumpkin worm.