Scale fish don't do well in cages. Cage culture was really developed for catfish and works great for them. Scale fish get to many bacterial infections from the stress and rubbing on the cage.

I always tell my customers they get better bang for their buck stocking forage minnows (fathead minnows or golden shiners) in the spring vs the fall. Only real reason to forage stock in the fall would be if you feel your gamefishes relative weights are too low and they won't have ample fat reserves for the winter months.

What part of TN are you in? I may know a producer or pond management company in your area, I have sold fish to several retailers south of me.