Here in VA, the VDGIF typically stocks 1 pike or musky per 2 acres of water per year or every other year. Those fish stocked are usually 6"-10" fish and survival rates are fairly low as predation on those newly stocked fish is high.

The use of TM or single sex pike as bass predators is possible. However, there are risks IMO. They will not just feed on your 8"-12" bass, but will also feed on your 8"-12" YP... If you have enough vegetation for cover, your YP may be able to handle this predation. I think chain pickerel are a more manageable Esox species. With a rare fish reaching 28" and most topping out around 24". They will prey on the 4"-8" bass, but not prey on larger sized fish. Since pickerel reach a smaller size, you can have far more fish per acre, leading to a more consistent fishery.

If you are looking for the occasional shock of a 30"+ Esox species, then NP or TM are the only option. I would keep the numbers on the low end. I would look at stocking larger fish, say 16"+ and only stock 1 per 4 acres per year at most. The use or larger fish allows higher survival and the stocking of less fish. That way there is more control in numbers. You don't want to stock numerous smaller fish to have a better than average year for survival rates and end up with too many. Stocking less but larger fish helps solve that possible problem.

As far as forage for NP or TM goes, I think GSH are high on the list for most ponds. If your pond is fed by a permanent stream that could provide a breeding area for white suckers, they would also be an excellent forage. YP would also serve as an excellent forage. LMB in the >12" range would also fall prey. In a well established pond with numerous larger LMB and NP or TM, gizzard shad could also be used as a forage, but we all know the risks of gizzard shad and the affects they can have on a pond community.