Your project sounds like lots of fun. Your stocking in mid-February should be successful as long as you have some open water. I think the trout will feed on the floating pellets. Ask the fish farm where you get the trout a few questions: 1. What do they say about feeding the trout soon after you get them. 2. When do they usually feed the trout at their farm because fish are very conditioned to feed at the same time. Trout normally quickly find floating pellets. 3. Take the temperature of your pond water and give that info to the sales person. This information may help with fish farm advice.

I suggest that next year you buy your trout as soon as the water temperature drops to 60F-64F usually in October. This puts some growth on the trout, gets them conditioned to where and when to eat in your pond, and may help reduce some excess BG. Plus the trout in your pond during winter could provide some ice or cold water fishing excitement during late fall or mid-winter. Enjoy.

aka Pond Doctor & Dr. Perca Read Pond Boss Magazine -
America's Journal of Pond Management