Ham, 1/2 acre isn't really large enough for bass or crappie.

Anything less than 25 acres(some say 50) is too small for crappie. They tend to over spawn, spawn earlier than other fish, have a hinged jaw, and clean out the other fish that spawn. You will generally wind up with thin, stunted crappie.

Bass can be done with 1/2 acre but, done right, they should have 1.5 to 2 acres. Even then, they can often over eat their food supply and stunt. Actually, the average Texas pond/tank is what we call bass heavy/bluegill light. This tends to make you work your butt off trying to catch and cull enough bass to give bluegills a shot.

Catfish aren't a bad choice. They are cheap to buy, inefficient spawners in small impoundments(the babies are slow swimmers and all get eaten) so are manageable.

My favorite recipe for small Texas ponds is a combination of hybrid bluegills and hybrid stripers with a feeder. Or hybrid bluegills with channel cats will also work.

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