This winter I'm going to try a Kasco de-icing system. Unless Ted Lea or someone else talks me out of it. It's basically just a surface agitator. I think that the 1/2 hp system doesn't use a ton of energy, so I think it will keep the surface clear, inject some oxygen and keep the warmer water near the bottom where it belongs. Here's the link I'm looking at.

http://www.aeratordeicer.com/deicers.html

This would also double as an emergency aerator during the summer if you wished to maintain your thermocline. I haven't used it but it seems to be a logical solution.

Holding a redear sunfish is like running with scissors.