Keith, call or go to your county agent's office to get the booklet "Management of Recreational and Farm Ponds in Louisiana". The county agent can also evaluate your water quality and offer advice on additives you might need. Unless your pond is deep (15+ feet) you will probably want to fertilize in an attempt to avoid vegetation growing from the bottom that can make your pond unfishable. Also, search this site for creative underwater structure ideas.
The LSU Extension Service recommends the following for a half acre pond:
If fertilized, 500 bluegill, 50 bass and 50 catfish
or 350 bluegill, 150 redear, 50 bass and 50 catfish.
Half those numbers if unfertilized.
In the booklet is also a recommendation for stocking a bream-bass pond as well as for a catfish-hybrid bream combination and for a catfish only stocking. Personally, I would not stock the catfish-hybrid bream combo or stock a catfish only pond.
I have been unsuccessfully trying to locate a near-by source for threadfin shad which I would happily stock. If you are able to find a source, please let me know about it.
Nice pond, Keith!
