I'm rather leary of using a bottom aerator for fear of lowering the water temp. down there and stressing my channel cats. I think I would have been O.K. last winter if I would have started the surface aerator at the onset instead of after things had gotten out of hand.
Yes, it doesn't get much more in the snow belt than where I'm located. At times last winter it was all I could do just to keep my 300' driveway open with an 8n Ford and a front plow! This year I'm going to try to keep the ice scraped down well and, along with the aerator, I think I'll make it through.
Going over some of the other posts on this board I read where someone mentioned papershell crayfish. You had any experience with these or know where I could find out more about them?

Once again, thanks for taking time to respond to my questions.

Tyler