Rock bass (RKB) have been tried by a few members and they saying they are trying to get them out of the pond. RKB can compete pretty strongly with juvenile SMB. IMO I would use yellow perch instead of RKB. Consider golden shiner as a forage fish. Maybe give threadfin shad at least one stocking attempt. You might be located a little far north for threadfins??? To get the smallies fairly quickly to larger sizes you will need multiple abundant forage items. Do your very best to always keep all LMbass OUT of the pond or your pond will soon become a LMB dominated pond.
IMO an initial stocking of 100-120 SMB in 2 ac would grow faster due to less direct competition. Fewer stocker bass would also allow more forage basis to become established before the smallies become 2 lb adults.
IMO you are wasting the gravel by putting it on the bottom and at depths greater than 6ft. Gravel in deep areas and even on the sides will quickly become loaded and covered with dead organics and silt. Been there done that numerous times. Others may also provide insight. I think you are better to contact a concrete contractor and get one shoreline embankment down to 5-7ft lined with waste broken concrete pieces all sizes. The more the better for crayfish and smallie habitat. Coarse broken concrete on banks will also reduce weed growth in shallow areas of those banks. Plant a couple hardy hybrid water lilies from a water garden store. See our Archives section for Water Lily information links. BE watchful of invasive piggy back plants of potted lilies.
Have you read these articles? Links to the other 4 articles are at the bottom of each article.
http://www.bassresource.com/fish_biology/growing-smallmouth.html
