There is a water body located about 5 miles from my house that had nearly dried out (only left with small pools here and there, with the exception of one area that always has water).  Just recently, the water district pumped water back into it and now is looking like a really good place to do some fishing.  My question is: If that piece of water that was just replenished is now connected to the piece of water that is always full, and if that piece of water has fish in it (and also considering that they keep the replenished area with water in it) how long do you guys think it might take before the fish move back in and there is a stable population (well at least enough to fish in)?  

I know in other areas, re-population can occur at a staggering rate.....just recently the state of Texas authorized the re-flooding of the Bahia Grande (a large salt flats that used to be a tidal flood basin that was blocked 70 years ago).  When they creaated a channel to reflood the area, marine biologists and wildlife experts hypothesized that they would see bait fish and crabs in about three months and oysters and shellfish in 3 years.  They saw imense populations of baitfish, crabs, and molusks (squid & octopus) in just a few weeks and large oyster beds forming in 3 months. Life finds a way.

I'd guess the concentrated and probably starving fish moved into newly flooded parts overnight. They would welcome the chance to spread out and find new food sources. No doubt the new water would have more DO so the fish would also increase their metabolism to start feeding.

Jim