I don't put much effort into fishing for large mouth, so when I talk bass I'm talking smallies. I don't have a "go to" bait. If you're targeting small mouth in a spot that is normally a good spot, and they're not hitting basic stuff that usually works, you haven't found the fish. My "go to bait" is a spot 25 yards down stream, or 25 yards up stream, depending on where I just came from.
If I make a dozen casts with a couple baits, and don't see any action, I move. I learned that principle from a guide who gave me some pointers on catching harvest trout years ago. Now days I apply it to nearly all species. (Sturgeon, or plunking for Salmon/Steelhead would be exceptions.) Using this principle probably tripled the total number of fish I catch.