What Is Pattern Fishing?
Figure Out Where The Fish Are And Seek Similar Structures
While pattern fishing is common practice for tournament bass anglers, the art of pattern fishing can be and should be used by all anglers, regardless of species sought. Many anglers love the simplicity of fishing and don't want to make fishing any more complicated than simply casting out a lure or bait. To these anglers pattern fishing seems difficult and a waste of valuable fishing time. Understanding pattern fishing is easy and can actually save anglers a lot of fishing time and make time on the water more efficient.
What Is Pattern Fishing?
Pattern fishing is when conditions of local weather, fishing and boating pressure or bait fish movements dictate where fish are likely to be.
Fish are at the mercy of their environment and as cold-blooded creatures must respond to the local water and weather conditions. Patterns develop when barometric pressure changes, either forcing the fish to shallower or deeper water or to bury into heavy cover. When low pressure is present, fish tend to use the upper columns of water and stay shallow. When the barometer is high, fish move deep or find heavy cover to block the sun's rays.
Other patterns develop when boating activety forces fish away form the shorelines into deeper water for comfort. Even the presence, or lack of presence, of bait fish can be used to establish a pattern. Most patterns are basic and easy to utilize while some become more complicated and are known as patterns within a pattern. Finding a pattern within a pattern can offer the best fishing of a lifetime. There will be bunches of fish in a tight holding area.
Finding A Simple Pattern
Finding a simple pattern is simply a matter of paying attention to details as you fish. If you catch a few fish near aquatic vegetation and then the fish stop biting, look for areas with similar vegetation. The same applies to wood or rock cover. If fish are using a fallen tree for cover find more fallen trees. There will be more fish there. Even depths fish are caught at can be a pattern. When a few fish have been caught in ten feet of water concentrate your efforts on that depth. Fish in the entire lake or fishery will most likely be using that depth.
Patterns Within a Pattern
Patterns within a pattern are a little more difficult to figure out, but can provide excellent fishing when found. A pattern within a pattern is when two or more patterns intertwine to form one pattern. For instance, if you're catching fish in ten feet of water where brush and rocks both exist, finding similar areas almost guarantees a great day of fishing. Aquatic vegetation mixed with pea gravel or chunk rock can be another great pattern within a pattern.
Being aware that patterns exist and paying attention to where a nice fish has been caught can add up to a fishing day to treasure.
Rock and Stickups are patterns.
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