If you had a well or or any source of flowing water that is warmer or slightly warmer than the pond water. As the pond chills they will seek out the warm watrer source and congigate around it making for easy cast netting. During our cold spells I have seen them piled around a outflow pipe of the artisian well flowing warmer water.

Goofing off is a slang term for engaging in recreation or an idle pastime while obligations of work or society are neglected........... Wikipedia