If you want to start over, you can make a temporary syphon with 2" PVC and Feldco gasket connectors, 2 elbows, a T with a cap, shut off valve, and a flapper valve for the intake. Once you really get that water down in the summer, the bass can really eat a lot of sunfish easily. It also is like catching fish out of a barrel. You might have a fish kill with the low water and low oxygen FYI. With the lower amount of water, electroshock would be easier too.
I have the same problem with an aging pond and silt. There's no cheap solution that I've found.
