If someone held a gun to my head and said "catch a largemouth bass," I would fish with a golden shiner about 3" long on a circle hook a couple of feet under a slip bobber.

If you're bringing in baitfish from outside your pond, I would recommend getting them from a reputable dealer and examining them to make sure that they are the advertised species and look healthy.

Ponds in TX, lake place in WI, me in CA