Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Corrective stocking Corrective stocking or start over?

To answer the main question, I would not worry about the fish population, nor the crayfish population in the pond until you get the water leak problem fixed.

If the main goal of the pond is having a LMB or SMB fishery, then I wouldn't worry at all about the crayfish population. The bass will take care of a lot of them.

With otters, you have a constant worry about them coming back. So, for now or at least for this year I would concentrate on getting the leak fixed, then build up the forage base. I believe that once you have the leak fixed, then get plants growing to minimize run-off into the pond, the pond water will start to clear. If not, then look into aluminum sulfate/hydrated lime to clear the water. The predators you stock will have a field day with the crayfish, no matter what the species.