I live in michigan also and you can skate in the winter so long as you can get the snow off the pond so light can get thru. We skated for about 2 months this winter and it was great. Did not have any fish kill at all that I noticed. My pond is 1/2 acre in size and I run aerators in it 24/7 mid may thru leaf fall (sept./oct.). Oh and my pond is 1 year old and I started with aerators right away.

Its not how well you do something,
Its how well you look doing it!