I just think you aren't catching the water.
It's just been to dam dry. Most of the rain we get is sucked in as soon as it hits.
I told Buddy you can go down to one of the well places here in town and buy some bentonite clay to line the areas that are low. then when it comes back up it should hold even better.
Bentonite should work as a sealer to keep the seepage to a minimum.

Pray for a big rain cloud right above your ponds. Then pray to the fishing gods to stock it with 10 pounders