I always find that the most productive grass areas will also contain other permanent cover or structure features. The grass dies back in my area during the wintertime. This is the perfect time to locate productive areas for grass fish. When you can see stumps, brush, rocks or other forms of cover that are normally covered up with grass during the warmer months you will have a head start on locating specific areas that may be more productive. I spend a lot of time looking in shallow water during the winter for any variations in cover or structure.
Winter is also a great time to place homemade cover to hold fish when the grass grows back.
Many of my best fishing locations in grass have been discovered in the dead of winter when all of the grass has disappeared. Also, many times in the winter or early spring when the grass is gone, I can catch fish on stumps or other cover in an area. Structure is another key element in locating concentrations of grass fish. Break-lines in front of shallow spawning bays can also be very productive for concentrations of fish when the grass starts to grow back in the spring. Grassy areas near steep drops or creek channels will usually be good areas to look for active fish.