Right you are Taylor. I have been stocking Tp for 4 years now and always have some of the larger fish survive the winter. My theory is that they are big enough to survive the predation from predators and maybe lucky when the cold puts them in torpor. I saw a school of nine yesterday in shallow water. They were all about 2-3 pounds and pretty active when approached. I have never seen any under a foot in length survive and definitely not fry or yoy. I live in Shelby County about 9 miles north of San Augustine. Quite a bit north of you. We had frost this weekend at 34 F. Early in the spring each year they have to dodge Bald Eagles that prey on them when they are basking in the sun on top water. We have had Eagles each spring since I put them in! My pond is about 6 acres and has been at or above 70 F at 6 inches in the mid day for a couple of weeks now. I have had some cnbg spawn but I think it was just from precocious fish. They were on beds but have moved away now.
Tom Sterling
Shelby County