Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations Winter fish kill. How do you know?

We have had a fairly mild winter in southern MN. ICE is only about 10". I aerated through Dec and have stoped in January, when the air started to get realy cold. My water temp just under the ice is 39 degrees and 41 degrees at 9'. When the ice was 2-3" thick last month I noticed FH up in the shallows. I have tried to keep the pond clear of snow cover in spots. Is there any way to tell how the fish are doing? I can't seem to catch them. I prefer to belive it is my poor fishing ability than dead fish. Are the FH just suning or are they starveing for air or something else?

Have you got access to an underwater camera? That's how I found my fish. Up until my BG were 5 to 6 inches long I could not find them for anything. When I finally did start seeing them as they got bigger they were not where I expected them to be. I think when they were small they must have been close up under the ice near shore hiding in weeds. I looked everywhere and never found them. But every spring they were there. I think small ponds are very different than larger lakes. If your fish are small I wouldn't worry, they'll be there come spring.

Addtionally your thermometer seems to be off about 4 few degrees. Very doubtful your water is 39 just under the ice and 41 in deep water. Water is densest at 39 which would mean your 39 degree water should be deeper than your 41 degree water. If you subtract about 4 degrees from both readings that should be correct.

Have access to a fish finder? If you can't catch fish but mark fish that would tell you they are there. Also if they are not that far off the bottom they should be fine. However if they are up high that could mean depleted oxygen in the deeper water.

I do have an under water camera that has digital read out of water temp.My fish are young and I only have a couple of inches of water clairity hard to see anything with the camera. I guess I'll wait and see in the spring. Thanks for your replies.