"Clear water and Muddy water both have the same effect on the base of the ponds food chain...it won't exist. Clear water is sterile water and muddy water does not allow zooplankton and phytoplantonic growth due to the lack of light penetration"...By Rainman

The previous is from the Muddy Water forum & Cisco's My Mudhole thread

It was a bit of a counter-point to my not wanting overly clear water due to over-vegetation problems, but wishing I had better "looking" water so I could more clearly see the fish..

My pond filled up 2 years ago. There was an algae bloom after partially clearing it in the fall of 2008 when it was 1/2 full.
I put forage fish in May 2009 & LMB & HSB in Nov 2009. There has not been a bloom since. The fish seem to be doing fine.

Rainman's quote makes sense. But it begs the question: Can fish flourish in muddy water (less than 12" on Secchi)in spite of a lack of algae blooms,and in water that is normally very fertile, but lacks clarity?