I suggest grabbing some actual samples.

I can't remember, do you feed the fish in your pond? If not, you can crush up some Cheerios, dog food, etc. and make a powder that will draw in surface feeding fish.

You might be able to catch some with a long-handled dip net. If not, then a small "cast net" might be a good investment ($25 on Amazon). You should be able to make some decent throws (especially on a windless evening) after a little practice in your back yard.

You can also fish for Golden Shiners (I have not). There are several experts at Pond Boss that can tell you how to catch them.

Finally, you might want to try some minnow traps. You can sample all kinds of interesting things from your ponds using those!

Have fun on your next "pond edge" safari!