I plan to set my 2" syphon that I have up in the shed rafters from when I dug out the other end of the pond several years go tomorrow hopefully. Figure the quicker I can pull the water down the better.
Agree!
Can you check the pond periodically while you are pulling it down? If so, you might go look after every few inches of drawdown and see if you can observe a tiny vortex or surface disturbance to help you locate the hole on the pond side. I would hate to leave it for the weekend though. Draw down now. If your pond is still filling, then perhaps you can let it come up a little on Friday night, and then you watch it drawdown over the weekend. (Or, the hole may be quite obvious after your initial drawdown!)
Also agree with Boondoggle on the repair. Dig it out clean and repack it well. Think of it the same way your dentist does a cavity. YOU have to make the hole bigger to fix it properly.
Finally, looks like you are going to be working on "muskrat patrol" this spring and summer. Do you know how to trap? Lots of people on the forum with similar problems are excellent trappers - usually out of necessity.
Good luck on your dam repair.
