If there are a few 18" bass, then a few 8" HSB may go down the tubes. Generally speaking, HSB and LMB don't spend a lot of time in the same areas.
Something you might want to seriously consider is to pen the HSB for a short while after stocking. Two falls ago we stocked some 8" HSB in a lake with an established LMB fishery late evening with the HSB being a little stressed from the travel. It was impressive!! The LMB blew up on the poor little wipers like they were hitting a topwater lure. Big explosions left and right with each blow up representing another dead HSB. Big booboo!
So the time of day and the condition of the stockers is crucial. I'd consider a midnight or mid afternoon stocking to let the HSB acclimate. It's conceivable that half of the mortality could occur within the first fifteen minutes.
I don't like stocking when the water is too cool, so I'd either get the fish in quickly before the fall cool-off, or wait until May of next year. February is a bad time. Actually I think a September stocking might be the best because it's the time that the LMB are already foraging well on YOY bluegill.
Just for the sake of argument I'd assume a mortality of 20-40%
