Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Winter Kill in Northern Ponds?

Rowly, is your pond opened up already? I am fearing the worst for mine, although I have an aerator running it only does so much. I have had 1 1/2 to 2 1/2+ feet thick of unclear ice and at times 1-2 feet of snow since late November. I unfortunately have seen a few dead fish come up through the open area in the pond... a couple of walleye, a couple trout and one large catfish. I also know that part of my problem is that although my ice may not have gotten so thick that it went right near the bottom, I did lose about 1/2-1 foot of water over the winter months and the ice 'sank' if you know what I mean. I had a fountain pump in 4+ feet of water that sat about 1 foot high, crushed down to an almost indistinguishable 6 inches high. Bye bye pump. So my fear is purely out of the thickness of the ice. Not as afraid of DO levels since I have very little vegetation and the aeration, but just the ice itself. Terrible year for my pond I fear.