Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose Existing pond with no fish?

I am looking to stock an existing pond that is about 3/4-1 acre. There are no fish in it currently that I am aware of. It has no shade, fairly steep banks, no underwater cover and is about 10 foot deep. It was an old outdoor manure pit many moons ago. I tested the water 5 years ago and the lab said it was clean and low on Nitrates. The pond/ manure pit was drained after we quit milking and solids were removed. It gets surface water only meaning no water runs into it. The water appears healthy as frogs, soft shell turtles and a few snappers seem to enjoy it.
I am looking to stock it this spring with some feeder fish like Flat head Minnows and red ear sunfish. I am also looking to stock next spring with some hybrid blue gill and some large mouth bass. My goal is the create a better habitat for the fish and to catch a few nice bluegill and bass. Not trophy size fish but something that is fun and have a few to eat. I am not in a rush and don't want to spend $2,500 to get 3 lb bass in a year. What do you think?

I would put some minnow traps in there, or run a seine survey in the pond first to make sure what if any fish are in there. If there are turtles in there, what are they eating if there are no fish that die?

You can google scme planimeter and use that tool to accurately measure your pond to find out what size it is.

Figure out the goals for the pond fishery wise. For the predator fish, they have to have prey fish to eat, and on a continual basis for the predators to continue to grow.

Figuring out your fishery goals for the pond will determine what fish are stocked, when they are stocked and at what numbers they are stocked.