Fellas,
There definitely is more going on with BW pond than just the simple state recommended stocking plan. Forage is definitely important for each species to thrive (which it is very hard to make a pond produce trophies of every single species) but I think BW, Bill might have nailed it right on the head with your 6-8 inch perch that were stocked? They could very easily be graded at that size as stunted or mostly male fish. (they could be a little fatter though even if that was the case?)

Perch will take pellets, just would be a challenge in your situation to feed them and not the bass.