Bill D., you are finding out what my problem is. Pond level drops, shallow water pond bottom is exposed, plants die.
When the pond fills, it's tannin laden water from the woods, and there is not enough sunlight reaching the existing wet pond bottom, all the sun can do is reach the bottom that was dry for months. Hence no underwater weed growth, no cover is shallow water for the YOY fish.
If I had plastic cover in the shallow areas of the pond for YOY fish, then 6+ months of the year it would be out of water and look ugly.
Unfortunately I don't have an answer. The only possible solution would be floating islands with stuff hanging down, but they'd have to be anchored in deeper water every week as the pond water level drops.
The downside to that is they make perfect waterfowl (goose) nesting sites. I've got enough problems keeping them off of the pond and the island...........
