My grass fishing 101...............go over the top with a topwater bait, if they won't bite that, or slap and miss, rip a square billed crank or swim jig through it.....still no takers, but you know they are in the grass, next step is a slow falling wacky rigged bait, if that's hauling water............time to go straight to the bottom with any number of things. My # 1 choice would be a T-rigged plastic, or a jig. If none of that works..................go fish docks, or hard cover out side the grass, like an off shore rock pile, sunken boats, etc....
In our lakes around here, there are ALWAYS bass in the grass, but they can be some of the most finicky fish to get to bite, especially in clear water where the grass is easily seen and hammered by a legion of decent anglers. Not to mention they turn off or on at the drop of a hat, at almost seemingly random times. While there are more shallow water fisherman around here, fewer of them are any good, and it's a good way to get on some big fish when the grass bite is slow..........same with the deep water bite. Not to mention, shallow living big bass seem to be more "angry" in general, and can be irritated into biting. But boy, when those hogs turn on in the grass, it's possible to put a sack and a half of them in the boat FAST, but timing is the key. I know guys who are 100% grass guys who will live and die with that bite, and never go outside or shallow. They are the guys who will zero or middle it for weeks on end, but they are also the guys who will smash 20lb bags for weeks on end when it's "right". I am not quick to bail on the grass, but I will....especially if I haven't had a bite in 4 hours and have fished the crap out of good areas, but it can bite you........several times I have given up on the grass to go shallow, or deeper, and it's cost me, because while I have been farting around elsewhere............they turned on.
