Oldsconv -- as you have already discovered, most of the "traditional" pond management strategies are simple, probably in an effort to be "safe." One of the fun things about Pond Boss is the interest in doing more. Many of these pondmeisters are willing to experiment with different fish species and management options, but also are willing to invest some money if something goes wrong (e.g., rotenone and start over).
The chain pickerel could be interesting. Northern pike (a larger cousin of the chain pickerel) can eat you out of house and home in a pond if the pike get too abundant. If they are not too abundant, they actually can help thin the small largemouth bass, and create ponds that have decent size bass as well as decent size panfish. A few folks on the Forum have wondered about stocking a few female-only northern pike to get the benefits without having to worry about too much natural reproduction.
Food for thought!
