Tips for Largemouth Bass Fishing in Small Tanks

Multiple Lures

Bass are a moody type of fish, only striking specific lures on specific days which meet their fancy. As there will be a limited number of bass in the small stocked tank you are fishing in, you can try out a number of different lures to see which ones they fancy. This will be obvious based upon how quickly the bass strikes, though the best chances to catch them with a particular lure will be on the first few strikes, as the fish are smart enough to learn what a lure looks like after a few attempts.

Shady, Shallow Areas

In a smaller tank, it should be easier to isolate where the bass are lying in wait or spending the majority of their time. Most largemouth bass like to wait in the shadows for smaller fish to swim by or for insects to land on the water. They will then swim out and eat them quickly, so they can duck back into the shadows and not give themselves away to predators or other prey. Run lures by these areas, so that they look like smaller fish or insects that a largemouth bass may be interested in eating. There shouldn't be too many of these areas in a small stocked tank.

Stick With An Area

When fishing a small tank or small body of water it is important to pick a specific area and stick with it. Just because nothing is biting doesn't mean you haven't chosen the right area or aren't using the right lure. It just means the fish aren't hungry or biting at that moment. Give each lure or location a good portion of time, ranging from thirty minutes to an hour to see if there are any changes in your results. Then consider changing, but also consider going back to that area later in the day. Largemouth bass are creatures of habit and they often feed and hang out in the same place. Sometimes it's all about the right timing when you want to be a successful fisherman.