Koi, bluegills, goldfish, and golden rainbow trout are just a few examples of fish that are better suited for surviving winter in a pond. Of course, this depends on your ability to properly winterize and prepare your fish and pond. Fish will need to be mature in order to make sure they have the fat stores necessary for surviving the winter. They will also need to be encouraged to enter a period of dormancy. This includes reducing the frequency of feedings once temperatures drop below 70 degrees, and then ceasing feeding entirely once things drop below 50 degrees. This sets off their instinctual alarms that winter is coming, and that their metabolism will need to slow in order to survive.
Do some research into your area and take temperature readings within your pond. Compare this to information about what particular kinds of fish need and what conditions they do best in. This is the best way to know which fish can thrive in your pond during the winter.
