Only 5, doh!!! :) I typically bring way too much crap with me.

Narrowing it down to 5 baits would be awful but...

9" MS Slammer - dark trout
Hudd ROF16
5" Big Hammer with 3/4oz leadhead in #13 baitfish color
Rago Live Trout Softbait (single joint original one)
Castaic Softbait Trout (original not snap on)

Other baits that I would hate not to have...

9 or 10" Stocker Trout
10" Triple Trout
Original Castaic hardbait (injected)
Rago Live Trout Hardbait
Other hudd variations

Those are the kind of baits that have proven themselves to me to catch big fish around Nor-Cal. If you're in So-Cal, many other baits might come into play. I haven't fished a ton in So Cal but I've hit a lot of the major big bass lakes down there and its all different than up here. You guys who saw the BASS Insider video saw me get some triple trout fish. I haven't done that well on the triple trout up here but it fit the conditions during that deal so that's what I had tied on. Every lake has its own personality, its own quirks and its own baits that work!!!

Best advice is ... don't get too locked in to any one bait, there's always bonus bites to be had on random stuff. And don't follow the crowd into everything. Try some random stuff now and again, act on a hunch or buy something that just appeals to you. Building a good stock of baits takes many years but you've got some great advice to start from on this thread. Good luck :)