I have little experience with lilies in regards to "fishing" ponds. But for "decorative" koi/goldfish-type ponds they are pretty nice to have, because they do an incredible job of keeping the water shaded, and they're nice-looking to boot.
Not sure where you're at in KY, but native species should be easy enough to find. My parents routinely dig up lilies from a local lake here in north TN and transplant them to their decorative pond. They also have a "bog-pond" plastic tub that they culture many of our native plant species in. In worst-case scenario, if you're not too far away, I could possibly get you some lilies for little or no cost, I would just have to clear it with my dad.
I would definitely agree with the individual potting, unless you have apirations of covering most of the pond with them. In a decorative, this is what you would probably do anyway, but in a fishery it's a bit unusual, at least around here. Not sure about how cold-hardy our native species are around here, but certainly if you were NOT going to pot them you'd want something that will peter out every winter.
Hope I can be of help! I am a new member here trying to prepare myself for the fishery that I am DEFINITELY gonna have after I finish my M.Mus. In the meantime, I have just enough experience with decorative ponds that I hopefully can help with your lily ponderances!
