Well my trout pond is almost ice free. The ice was rotten so I cranked up the diffuser and it really did a number on the ice. Saw two 3 1/2 pound browns chasing each other and I got plenty of brooks and browns to feed in the evening. I hydrated the 5D06 to make it easier for them to digest in the cold water.
Other ponds are ice covered with open edges but absolutely not safe to walk on. If one managed to get out to the thicker ice you'd still go through.
