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If you saw fish hitting the surface in search of O2, I don�t think you�d have 1 or 2 days to get an aerator going. As for the jar-sample, it probably isn�t replicating or paralleling what is currently occurring in your pond�s larger environment (temperature, sunlight and O2 variables).
I don�t know the answer to whether all dead fish float. Certainly, the ones that we usually see are floating � usually caused by distended swim-bladders or due to internal gases that form when decomposition occurs (or during digestive processes � I hate it when that happens!!)
Again, I have no direct experience with this theory, but I'd question whether dead/floating fish would remain isolated to a 20� opening in the ice created by bottom-diffusers. My theory is that the mushroom-effect of water-movement could push them along, under the ice, to the outer perimeter of the pond � where their buoyancy would prevent them from following the under-current back to the central area of the pond. If so, what happens to them at the pond�s perimeter is still a mystery. Would they decompose and sink over time? Would scavengers get them immediately when the ice thawed? I don�t know.
Hey, I may be way off-base here (which is often the case when folks speculate about matters outside of their geographical or personal experience). But, everything you described sounded like a classic recipe for an oxygen crash. Now, the question is, IF an O2 crash occurred, what happened to the fish?
I don�t think you mentioned the sizes for the LMB that were stocked � on either occasion. Assuming the first round of bass died, yet some or most of the cats (1.5 lb.) survived � is it possible that the surviving cats might have made a meal out of the second stocking of bass?
That�s a lot of guessing and theories on my part. Bottom line: you need to find out if there are any/many bass still in the pond � somehow. What about doing a gill-net survey, temporarily, to see if any bass are collected? I�ve never gill-netted bass, but assume they can be collected in such manner � and returned unharmed if the net is checked frequently. Maybe the hatchery might provide some accurate guidance on this question - ??.
Speaking of: I�d do some more checking around on LMB stocking recommendations for ponds of your size. Due to their inherent nature, and relatively inefficient forage-to-body-weight conversion capabilities, bass are not considered well suited for small ponds � especially at high stocking densities. What are high stocking rates? Again, check with other qualified sources. But, 100-170 LMB in a � acre pond sounds very excessive to me � particularly when the pond is co-inhabited by that many catfish.
