Great article from MSU Cares. My personal preference for a 1/4 acre pond is hybrid sunfish, whether GG or straight hybrids, and channel cats. The cats and larger hybrids can do a decent job on the later gens of the hybrids but you have to maintain both of the stocked species by fishing. Catch and eat the cats when they get bigger and restock cats. Use a feeder 4 or 5 days per week. They will still feed on the smaller HBG's.

If you stock bass, stock no more than 25 and keep all of the offspring that you catch. That's tough to do but is fun to try. Even feed trained bass follow their insticts and eat the HBG offspring.

I've never seen a smaller pond that is actually self maintaining.

It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.

Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.

Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP Grandpa