Can only speak for out here - we fish outside the beds, anywhere from 9 to 22 FOW - almost all the time. When the water is warm enough for weeds - we fish the outside. You probably won't catch as many fish but you will catch a better quality fish. I have seen a lot of big Redear bedding but not a lot of big Bluegill - up to 10". I think the bigger fish spawn deeper and the beds are spread out more.
Lot of BG activity, @ LP, is triggered by bug hatches. I watch the birds - they can tell you a lot about what's going on in the water - and where.