Fish in general IMO seem to do better when they are stocked in the spring or fall when air temps are 60 to 70 out. Fish will be more vibrant and everything in your pond too. I have both feed trained and non feed trained HSB and they don't seem to be real aggressive in the winter at all. I would not want to put a fish in my pond that may not eat for quite a while once you put them in there and then end up dying from the stress. That's just me though. I put mine in my pond in mid March and they have done quite well. I now have some pushing 4 pounds after 3 years.

The only difference between a rut and a Grave is the depth. So get up get out of that rut and get moving!! Time to work!!