Go to lure/bait?

Berkley gulp minnow are just awesome. I have fished them side by side with live shiners and they always keep up and sometimes out perform.  If you find the right jig heads they really look just like the real thing. I use the 1" emeralds almost exclusively. I wish I would have had some of the 3" ones at times but don't even have the jigs that big. 

I've tried this thread before, completely innocent...but didn't fly over well with the rest of the guys.
 
But Mossy Oak~ in the Berkley Gulp you can catch almost anything on the 1" including trout, pan-fish, bass. I just started fishing the 1" it was recommended on here to me and has worked out very well so far with a 1/64th jig head or Trout magnet sized jig head. 
 
I also fish the 2" and 2.5" with success. I catch many killer gills, crappie and largemouth in this size range. However I've caught few walleye with them but don't really target walleye with em'.
 
I have had 0 success on 3" +
My favorite "go to" colors would be the smelt, black dace, and chartreuse, Unlike dakota I have not had success with the "emerald shiner" color.
 
Overall just experiment with different sizes and see what works best for you. And don't leave a minnow on your hook because the gulp dries out and becomes a pain in the arse to take off your hook or jig.

Be careful when putting the lids back on the jars. The jars are notorious for leaking,they not only make a mess,but the minnws dry out also. After using them a while try dipping the minnow back into the juice for a few seconds, then resume casting.  Seems to help me.  sam

The ONLY Berkely Gulp Alive I use are the 4" minnows in chartreuse or black for Walleye. Absolute killer on walleye. I do realize that you asked about trout, bass and panfish, but I have other artificials for those species.