Hi Cal,
That's an age old dilemma for sure. It sounds like you have the mic/pickup hardware in order. Are you using in-ear or floor monitors? A wedge in front is a nightmare for feedback. In-ear monitors or an amp behind you might help. Another option is to try is stuffing a towel in the resonator. If you find the offending frequency you may be able to pull it back with an equalizer.

I have a Jones-Hatfield pickup. I like it. It's not very hot. That may actually be better? I've been a fiddler in an old school dance band. No monitors and very loud. It sucked. I find out that today's system let you have a quiet stage (talking voice, no yelling). I guess it depends on how far up the food chain you are. Sure saves hearing.

I don't know about ensuring no feedback, but I think magnetic, humbucker (electric guitar style), pickups will be less prone to going microphonic and producing feedback.

The original EMG is probably the best in that regard. The Kavanjo is also a magnetic pickup (pre-mounted in a head). To my ear, the least feedback prone pickups sound the least like banjos.

I'm sure your clip-on microphone was a big contributor to feedback. Especially if your band uses floor monitors.

You might try stuffing the inside of the pot when you're using a pickup. Or getting one of the Gold Tone electric banjos. Or a used Deering Crossfire.

Looking for advice on the best banjo pickup. I currently use a Fishman Rare Earth pickup. It is ok, but I'm wondering about any alternatives that may be better, give a more genuine banjo sound.

Do you play alongside electric guitars, drummer, etc?

No drummer or electric guitars - An acoustic bluegrass band, all the other instruments have pickups too. Looking for the most original 'banjo' sound I can get. Thanks

I play acoustic and electric guitar and banjo in several bands none of which are straight bluegrass and vary from all acoustic to amplified drums, bass, keys, etc. Wagon Wheel to Whipping Post I like to say.

For electric banjo I use a 3 pickup piezo in an 80s Leo with a fair amount of reverb and eq to land on a very acceptable amplified banjo tone.

At one of my first electric gigs years ago the sound guy refused to try to mike my banjo. I had one of those cheap stick on ebay in case of emergency piezos in my kit that I put on. Sounded like hell but I realized I was going to run into the situation going forward so bit the bullet and worked it out.

I figured with some of these great other pickups out there, there could probably be better tone but I'm happy with it as are the people that listen to us and it cost me $15. I hate chasing tone.

I have had my eye on one of those Sierra electrics. There's one at a used shop up the road but honestly it doesn't sound much different to justify the $2K+ investment.