Winter is a critical time for a fish pond and needs to be planned with great care as in severe winters you are at risk of losing your whole stock. In any region if you want your fish to survive the winter then your pond should be at least 3 feet deep. It is best by first establishing the type of winters you usually have as in areas where it is very severe for long periods of time your best option is probably to remove your fish indoors for the winter. This can be done either in a tank or a temporary pool.
Feed your fish well in the summer so they can 'bulk' up but stop feeding them as soon as the temperature falls below 50 degrees. They will then go into hibernation and feeding them during this time could cause them digestive problems and possibly kill them.
If you have a water feature such as a waterfall connected to your pond if possible leave it running throughout the winter as this will make it harder for the water to freeze and will also reintroduce oxygen to the pond. If your winters are too severe for this perhaps you should consider the introduction of an air brick that will bubble and help keep a small hole in the ice and also provide oxygen.
The main thing is to try and prevent the whole of the surface of your pond from freezing. If this your pond does freeze over DO NOT break the ice as the shock waves could kill your fish. Some people do suggest placing a ball on the surface of the pond as this will allow a small area to stay open.
Planning for the winter and taking precautions before the bad weather sets in should ensure that your fish will still be with you in the spring!
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