The reason I asked was because I have a practice pond and I just take one type of bait I'm not comfortable with and throw it until I catch something. Once you catch something on a bait you have no confidence in changes your mind set about it completely!
I've done this with just about every type of presentation and I feel good about using many kinds of baits.
Although I still have a hard time with Flukes!

Drop shot, I don't enjoy a spinning reel.

I use a regular baitcaster on my drop shot. Works just fine.

+1 - can't get one of those damn things to work for me.

I would rather have a tooth pulled than drop shot.

Pop-R

Jig. I've tried plenty, but never a bite. I just recently gained confidence in the Carolina Rig. I'll continue to revisit the jig. Never give up.

Big jig or a DD22.

try holding the rod out parallel to the water, sweep it back and take up slack as you go back to about 2 oclock, repeat. I get bit most on the pick up after a drop doing this, be ready.

this time of yr too I will wake a chatterbait, rod tip high and crank just enough to keep it barely below the surface, I get some explosions on the hit. other way is to slow crank as you pick up the tip, try to hold it steady as you drop the tip and take up slack, try not to let it fall too much, repeat, this gets me some pretty good hits too.

one thing I have learned with chatters is set the hook at least twice, I normally do 3 times just to be sure.

caught a fish on it once,reeled it in there it was 4lb can't duplicate.