Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Creating the food chain Starting over on a big pond

You likely had a significant to major fish kill prior to the noticeable poor catch rate. You are experiencing one of the major problems with having a larger pond - cost to renovate or do anything major to it. Now is a good opportunity to drain it and rework the bottom at least the deep end near the dam. Maybe even consider down sizing it or turning it into two or three ponds.

You can restock it as is but you are delaying the inevitable - full renovation. If you don't deepen the pond expect another fish kill depending on weather conditions. The pond is old so it does have a significant accumulation of bottom muck and a eutrophic condition - aging. Increasing eutrophy over time leads to the likelihood of more frequent DO sags and fish kills both summer and winter. Plan for it to happen.

I will let others advise you about restocking. But first I would do a fairly intensive fish survey to verify what fish remain. I have not doubt the bullheads are still doing very well.