Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Will the Tilapia last through winter?

My pond was stocked this spring with 6-7" Tilapia. We did a draw down this summer to repair a leak, and started adding well water back the 1st week of October. I have been taking water temperatures over the past several weeks now that we have started to get our first cold weather. Last week temperature at 10' was 72 with surface temperatures near 74. This week we have had four consecutive days of highs below 60, lows in the low 40's and cold rain (2" over past 2 days). I took temperatures today and the 10' depth reading ran 63, while surface is 56. I have a well running in at 450 gpm that runs through a channel and then into the lake. The ground water here runs 72. The well will run all winter to refill the lake
Looks like the small tilapia have moved into the channel (I have seen several 1" tiliapia swimming among the gambusia) I have not seen any of the larger tilapia in the past week, so I assume they have gone deeper. These are now in the 12-14" range and going near 2 lb.
Do you think the small tilapia might just be able to over winter in the channel? How do I feed them to encourage this, considering the fast flowing water in the channel? If I add floating pellets, it will just get washed into the pond where I expect temperatures to eventually drop below 50.

Mike good questions. Any chance to make a small diversion pond with the well going in one end and out the other into the lake? The fish will not need to eat much in cool water (low metabolism). A few pellets will be enough. The pellets should not wash out of a diversion pond.

After 3 days of cold(?) weather & rain(2"+), my pond had a reading of 57 degrees at 12" depth. The Tilapia "bought the farm" between 12/10 & 12/16 the last 2 years. I wished I could catch a couple more for the frying pan this season.

Good suggestion Erik. I might be able to amke a small diversion pond on a side of the channel in the shallow end of the lake which will fill last. I could direct some of the flow in and out of thios diversion pond to hold temp. above the magic 55 F. i may try this weekend, If I get it to work, i will let you know.

The diversion would be the best bet. I think that they would stay in the channel where the water is warm. My tilapia were stacking up in the flow of the well where the water is much warmer. It's like a tread mill with them swimming against the current but staying in one placed.