My pond is the same size and I just put a pvc framed net over the pond in fall and leave it over winter so No leaves. I have had to use it in the summer occasionally when the hawks and stray cats thought my pond was a sushi bar. I do the bubbler but luckily we don't have ice that lasts too long. I have found a dead frog or 2 and last year I lost 4 fish. This year everyone was present and accounted for. I started feeding everyone and turned the pump on yesterday. Yeah! The toads are singing and spring is coming. Don't feel too bad, I am sure they die in natural bodies of water too.

Thanks frankielynnsie. I'm definitely going to cover my little pond next Fall. Seems like I didn't see many leaves going in, but I'm sure they accumulated. I'm also thinking that some muck is good for the frogs during the winter, but I guess there's a point where the toxins from them plus no oxygenation from a pump tips the scale into an unsurvivable situation. You think those frogs would know better! ;)
But you're right.....they die in natural bodies of water too. I'm thinking about splurging and getting a small pond vac and trying to be more careful with cleaning.
Thanks frankielynnsie!

I leave some leaves in the pond for them for the winter. My fish hide in them also. My pond is much bigger (about 6000 gal) and I always have some frogs die each year. I cover part of my pond, and run a small pump under the cover. this year I added an air pump under the cover and some roof deicing cable. I have not found a dead frog yet! I read somewhere that frogs optimum winter temp is (if I remember correctly) 35-37* and I have been trying to think of a way to get some heat into the water without it costing a fortune. I wove the cable thru a piece of dog crate so it wouldn't touch itself anywhere. It was warm to the touch out of the water. Then I put it in the water kind of upright so the top was at the surface. I used a 60 ft cable and I think it cost about $10 a month to run. There was no ice under the cover and outside it stayed thin near the cover. So maybe it did keep the water a touch warmer and help the frogs! Sherry /frugalgardener 5/MI

nets are a definite yes for ponds for the fall/ winter. I made the mistake ONE time and now I always cover it over when the leaves begin to fall heavily and I can't keep up skimming them.You don't even have to keep the net above the water but it helps keep leaves from forming heavy wet piles that further sink the net. This year for the first time, I built a frame with 1/2" pvc to keep the leaves completely off the net. It worked well until the snow pulled the frame down with its weight. But as soon as the snow melted, the frame popped back up (three times so far and I hope no more this year!)

I am attaching a photo of the frame and one of the net with snow.

(the net was purchased for $10 at a consignment shop and it is a pool net that had never been used.)