fishbird, here's a few random thoughts for you. In my experience, it is much easier to manage high diversity with non-breeding species of fish. We have about 20 species of catchable fish in our lake (4 acres). The only successful reproduction is by bluegill. Our lake is predator heavy and young fish of any species have a very small chance of survival.

LMB and SMB will live and thrive together just fine. The SMB will often not reproduce successfully in the presence of LMB. With all of the species, except bluegill, I add fish every year. If chain pickeral were native here, I would have them. Northern pike are just too big for our lake. Grass pickeral are native but even an adult fish would be a snack for a bass.

Something like this might work for you.

Norm Kopecky