As for floaters........We usually stock a 6-8" mix and they make it until mid December. I have never seen large floaters, but do on occasion see 2-3" fingerlings.
You are truly smacked on with the stocking method and size. Smaller fish will consume quickly when they sense temperature zone offset based on their survival mode. They will feed hard and grow fast to survive the cold days with more insulated muscle tissues. However, all that's in vain when they are stocked in frigid climates. However, there is a way to maintain their survival passively even in the dead of winter, when there's a bit of sunlight available. An underground aquatic area where the solar heating panel can warm up an area for the fishes to stay warm. Ever notice how the fishes hug the bottom during cold seasons in the deepest areas, or areas where structures tapped into the very depth of the earth? Every little source of heat help, and fishes are great detector of temperature changes.
