With the cool temps here, I don't have anything further to report. (Well, the 30-40 mph winds did blow the cage with the Optimal HBG into the pier, and it tore part of the mesh loose from the cage. I don't know how many are now swimming around in the pond... )
Sorry to hear that Scott. Been there done that with ice and dropping a fish into the pond when removing them from the cage. I've finally come to the conclusion that if I don't want fish from a cage in a pond, the cage has to be in another pond.
That's why I use my pond as a test bed. I don't have clients mad at me that way for screwing up their pond. They'll have to swim fast to avoid the LMB.