Sorry for the slow reply… I've been thinking about this and don't think I could do it. If it was a lake by lake then I could probably narrow it down to two lures for each lake. Then again that would be tough because as the season progresses the big fish change thier mood. What works in June isn't the same as what works in August and that isn't the same as what works in October.
Mike and Will have actually split this question in two. The question needs to be divided into amateur and experienced fishers.
Amateurs need two lures at a time to start stocking the tackle box and a few suggestions will get them started into the general statewide muskie fishery.
Experienced fishers need refined lure techniques adapted to individual lakes covering the three seasons spring-summer-fall.
Suggesting general lures to get started is much easier than specific seasonal lures on individual lakes. After all, fishing guides and tournament anglers can't give away all their most treasured secrets.
I think I have had this nightmare before. I would have to take a weighted burt and a bucktail just because I have caught most of my fish on these and they will catch fish on almost any lake. I would be lost though and I would be one grumpy angler if the fish were deep or if they needed to be finessed with some rubber.
But But But I am an Amateur?? 
😮 I used to be a professional when I guided clients for money and some of what Hamilton said is true about seasons and such. But my question was loaded. There are certain Lures that people use as go to baits. When Posting this question I was fishing . Im always learning and watching, soaking up information about peoples top lures and go to baits. Problem with this post is Will skillfully dodged the question and I already know about the Squirrely burts and bucktails ,Grandma lures and such. Im still fishing doesnt anyone have a different off the wall lure that just kicks musky slime???? 8) 
Kingfisher
LOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There's so many good lures out there but when I think about the lures on my A-team a couple things stand out. It's not the lures as much as the modifications that make most of my lures good. Also, in some cases it's the retrieve or something in the retrieve that makes a lure more productive.
Isnt that the truth about the modifications and certain triggering actions. Just about any Crank behaves erratic when ripped or twitched. Some better than others. Burn and pause with a Bucktail causing it to stall and sink for a split second . Ill never understand why Muskies love to chase and eat Squirrly burts and Squirkos but they just love those rise and fall side to side jerkbaits. My choices were the Loke and Little Claw. I have caught Muskies and Pike on Lokes in every lake Ive fished but two. They are my go to Trolling lure. My Little claws can be fished in as shallow as 1 foot of water with light twitches. They work best in 7 to 10 feet and clear lakes have been better for this lure. Now this next statement goes against most articles Ive read. My little Claw works best when the water is clear and flat calm like glass. Most guys say stay home need some stain or chop. These conditions are when I have caught most of my fish using this lure and reason is I can see it working all the way back to the boat. Like Will says about certain movements. Im looking for the lure that I can get to do the same thing when I cant see it at all. That would round out my arsensal and double my fish production. I have a couple of Claws that I can catch fish on in any conditions except deep(10 feet down) This seems to be my weak area . As it stands when I need to get deeper I troll because I cant seem to get them casting from deeper than 8 to 10 feet.. So when the fish are negative to neutral located in 12 to 15 feet of water and on the bottom what would you use hands down besides a Bulldawg. Kingfisher
I consider myself an amateur for sure still even after three years of serious musky fishing. I can't pick a favorite yet because I seem to raise fish on every bait I have ( rare that I catch them though) Then the baits that I have caught fish on, I never seem to catch another one on, so I still throw everything. Tough choices…Maybe I should pick a couple styles of lures and fish the crap out of them, that way I'm forced to catch fish on those baits there by building confidence. But a more likely senario is I'm going to keep buying new "stuff" just because. AK
There is a difference between one's "favorite" baits and the most versatile baits. When asked if you could only take 2 baits with you, with gun pointed at head so you couldn't say…but wait, some would select their 2 confidence or "go to" baits. Others may pick the most versatile baits, baits that can give you the most options, cover water from shallow to deep, etc..
i.e. I always thought that a spinnerbait has to be one of the most versatile baits, although I don't throw it as much as a bucktail.
Then what color's is it a cloudy day sunny day is the water clear stained or muddy trolling deep or shallow trolling in the spring summer or fall?For me in the spring it would be a baby shallow raider then in july-nov it would a 9 inch grandma and the baby shallow raider now color for me it would be blue silver, black gold, firetiger,black.Casting it would be a spinner bait or a little claw.
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