As regards the minimal stocking:

IMO, even a few HSB in the INITIAL stocking of a pond would probably make some difference.

However, you are stocking them into a large pond that almost surely contains some sizeable LMB. There is a chance that you would mostly be providing a tasty snack to your LMB.

Do you have a small grow-out pond you could use to raise your HSB for a while? If so, then I think putting large HSB in your 10-acre pond might have some benefit.


*** I do NOT have HSB in any of my ponds. Hopefully some of the actual HSB experts will wander into your thread.


Further, if you need to control stunted crappie, then there may be more effective methods. I know there are several good threads on that topic if you search the archives.