Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Help What should I continue to stock at this point

Hi guys. I guess it's time to initiate a new post. I kind of began side-tracking into this area from another problem I had.
I began stocking my lake (approx. 5-7 acres/2-4 feet shallow end to 8-10 feet in the middle and 11-13 feet down by the dam-the lake is shaped like a hotdog-longer and narrow/I also have an aerator that has diffusers in the shallow and middle areas)with 450 4-7 inch large-mouth bass, 35 13-16 inch large-mouth bass, 220 10-14 inch crappie, 150 5-7 inch jumbo yellow perch and approx. 500 pounds of fatheads (that went in during the summer). I then added 1000 bluegills and 200 pounds of additional fatheads this fall prior to the freeze-up. This spring, I was planning on adding 1000 bluegills and perhaps up to 500 black crappie and another 200 pounds of fatheads to supplement my fish until they all start spawning.
I chose these species because they spawn well in this type of lake and I wanted species that would spawn and support the larger fish.
Should I continue with my plan? And do you think that the fish will be able to be supported on each other's spawning. I don't mind planning on adding a couple hundred minnows once or twice a year, but would prefer them to support themselves without it.
One other question: Do you think channel catfish would be a benefit or a negative to the lake?
Thank you guys... learning as I go!

What sizes were the 1000 BG you stocked last Fall and the 1000 BG you were planning to stock in the Spring? We need to see if they are safe from those 35 large LMB and if spawning in 2009 is likely.

I don't think CC in moderate numbers (200 - 300 total) would be a deal breaker. If you want to have them, stock no more than half as many as you think you'll want. (Seriously - they get big too fast and are too easy to restock in larger sizes to go overboard on IMHO).

Any thought's of feeding the fish? Your post gives me the opinion you don't plan too.

Theo,
Thank you for the input. What does CC mean? I know it is crappie, just don't know about the first C. Also, IMHO?
The bluegills that went in in fall were 3-5 inches and I was hoping they would be spawning in July (and hopefully May as well or at least partially). I was going to get 1000 4-6 inch bluegills this spring with the hopes that they would spawn as well. I just spoke with the breeder and he emphasized it was the age (2 yrs.) that was relevant, not the size.
That was the same reasoning for wanting 4-6 inch black crappies (hopefully they would be large enough to spawn as well).
Two things: first, I have 4 cottages that clients come all year long and fish for free (one of the amenities we offer), so we can help manage the numbers (which I would like to stay a little heavy for that reason) of fish we have.
Second, I was hoping to not have to keep adding minnows as I was hoping that the variety of fish species we have along with the minnows spawning would be enough to support the lake. Is this not likely?
Also, with all the fish spawning this spring and summer, won't that (and the fact we already put 1000 blue gill in last fall) make it a mute point with the 35 large bass? (we have caught 5 of the large ones ice-fishing the last couple weeks and they don't seem like they have been pounding the blue gills-I mean size-wize, they don't look like they have grown THAT much!!)

CC = Channel Catfish
IMHO = In My Humble Opinion
See the Acronym Archive (now YPTTPP enhanced!)

LMB prefer to eat BG 1/3 to 1/4 their own length. This size meal maximizes their (calorie in)/(calorie expended catching dinner) ratio. The largest of last year's 3"-5" BG stockers (and 4"-6" BG added this year) should be pretty safe from predation to allow them to spawn AOK (which I agree should happen sooner or later this Summer). You wouldn't want 1) your large bass to eat all your BG stockers or even 2) those large bass to have nothing to eat except newly hatched BG. I think you will avoid both of those problems.

Given Crappie profiles, I suspect LMB would prefer Crappie dinners 1/3 or so their own length. Someone may have better info on this.

Thank you very much for the input. Sorry on the CC (I did pick that up sometime before but was thrown as we were talking about crappie). So, a couple hundred CC, 250-500 4-6 inch crappie and another 1000 bluegills sounds ok?
How about all the species and numbers I have in there... can the spawning continue to keep them all fed well? If not, is there a way to be able to get the lake completely self-sufficient (for the most part).

Please disregard this post as I have received feedback in a different area (sorry, still learning how to use this!) Thanks for all the excellent feedback!
God bless!!