Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Corrective stocking The Color of Bass

The dark colored fish could also be coming from water that is colored by tannins. Bass will adjust their colors to match their surroundings, i.e. take a brightly colored bass, but it in VERY turbid water (6" visibility due to suspended clay) and the fish will look almost white in a few weeks.

It's not only the ice on the pond, it is the water temperature. If you do try it, I would recommend fin clipping the fish so you can ID the bass once they are in your pond.