I, too inherited a large stock pond. It is fed by a series of springs that created a large swamp. It hasn't been used for livestock for 35 years. It has always been murky, with a muck bottom. It had plenty of fish and a wide variety, due to the river flooding and getting in my pond. My extension agent said it's healthy, leave it alone. I left it alone. THEN, we were infested with Mosquito Fern. It grew and covered the whole pond surface; it was blood red. (stressed) Then ALL the fish in the pond died. P U Then the Fern turned green. (healthy, oh great) After the Mosquito Fern died way back, I put 5 goldfish that my grandson "won" at the fair in the pond. not a good idea. But they seemed to destroy the Fern. Now I have thousands of Goldfish in the pond, some catfish, bluegill, etc. I guess you have to decide what you want to do with your pond. We never swim in ours, so the murk doesn't matter. Fishing is a blast.
