What do anglers mean when they refer to patterns?  I hear this a lot but I'm not sure what people are talking about.  I think it means  where fish are holding at the time and/or what type of lures are working the best.  Am I correct?

You are on the right track. A pattern is using a particular lure the same way on certain types of structure or cover. For example using a C-rig on main lake points.

You can also find patterns within patters. Using nb1226's example, you might be c-rigging main lake points but the bass wont take a worm. You find that using a lizard and working it fast on the c-rig on the main lake points is most effective.

You are on the right track. A pattern is using a particular lure the same way on certain types of structure or cover. For example using a C-rig on main lake points.

I agree with nb1226, but sometimes patterns are awfully hard to determine.  In many tournaments I find myself "junk fishing."  Sometimes patterns are obvious, other times I can't seem to figure them out!  :-/

The thing about I pattern is when you can find it it will help you eliminate unproductive lures and spots on the lake.  Instead of just going down the bank and fishing every inch of an area for miles.  When you find I pattern you can take those hours of fishing and put yourself in the spots that are holding more fish at the time and will be able to use the right lure.  Thats why you hear so much about it.  It makes your time on the water more productive.  

Good luck and talk to you later.

Check this info out. It's a pretty good article on establishing a pattern by Kevin Fitzgerald.  

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/establishing_pattern.html

Man, I love Bass Resource!! If you got a question, this site has the answer!

Not trying to hijack the thread, just trying to keep the discussion going -- how long does it take for you to feel that you have established a pattern?  If you hit two fish in the same area, is that enough? or do you have to repeat that in a different area.  For instance, I was fishing a club tournament a couple of weeks ago in a lake that is really on fire this time of year.  My partner and I knew that fish tend to hold in this particular cove and we had the #1 blast off position so we headed in and began throwing a variety of lures (junk) until he started getting hit on plastic worms in the reeds.  We caught several fish in this area and then moved to another area that was similar that also had reeds and got nothing.  At the end of the day, the winners declared the pattern to be rocky banks which we did not fish until later in the day without any success.  What are your thoughts on how long it takes to identify the pattern?

Well patterns can change throughout the day, and there can be several patterns working.

In your tournament,Shad Master,  you may have been able to develop your plastic worm/ reed pattern more if you had noted what was different between the two reed mats. Obviously the first had something the second didnt, on a point, near a ditch or channel, etc. Its those little things that can make a big difference.

That's what I'm wondering though -- I know that fish will orient to cover/structure differently at different times -- I'm trying to figure out how much information you need to "establish" at pattern.  Often times it seems like it is just hunt and peck, but I hear so much talk about patterns.  I'm trying to figure out how to do it not necessarily what it is.

Sorry about that Shad Master

I would say, that the time it takes to establish a pattern, would depend on you. How fast you find the fish, and figure out where they are and what they want. If it is a lake you fish regularly developing the pattern could be fairly fast.

How much information you need, honestly I think you need 2 pieces, location and presentation. How you break down that info would make it appear like more information.