I live in the snowbelt in Northeast Ohio. We just got dumped on last Thursday with 14 inches of heavy, wet snow. Although we are used to a lot of snow, we are not used to it this early in the season. The leaves are still on 50% of the trees. My pond was all ready for winter although it was still netted because I have a willow tree close to the pond that has about 90% of its leaves yet to lose (willows are usually the last of the trees to lose their leaves around here). My pond also stays netted 24/7 because of coons and herons, etc. Well, due to the snow, I had to take the net off because the weight of the snow sunk the net into the pond, and we are expecting more snow tonight. I cannot have the net freeze into the pond water or onto the rocks. It scares me to death to keep my fish unprotected. I went and bought a sheet of white plastic lattice at Home Depot and laid it across the pond today. It is "tightly woven," meaning the holes are only about 1" in diameter. The lattice sheet covers the majority of my small pond, and I put two poles underneath to help support the lattice above the water. I am hoping that the lattice helps to keep the majority of the willow leaves out and helps to protect the fish, but I am afraid I am missing a disadvantage here to having the lattice on the pond. Can you guys think of anything I'm not? Thanks.