Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Creating the food chain Stocking a large body of water?

Keep in mind all 3 species listed for most of their life are littoral zone dwellers (close to shore and cover associated with).
Now, if the entire pond is set up with habitat and proper depth contours throughout the whole pond with useable structure throughout, then higher (much higher) stocking rates would make more sense.
In Kansas (we are not in this case) the highest recommended stocking rate for a pond from a State biologist will be maybe 250/acre for BG, most will suggest 200 max in a new pond. FHM can be put in in about any number you want over a few pounds per acre, they will feed something even if they don't have enough habitat to support spawning by ALL fhm stocked when predators are put in. I hear 100/acre on LMB all the time from our bio's in diverse impoundments. If it's a bowl shape, 25-30 per acre are sufficient in larger Body impoundments because less area of the open water is used so it's a "measured" littoral area.
Down south, when TFS come in to the picture, as Lusk mentioned, it changes behavioral patterns of both Bass and BG.
We don't have that issue here, Alewives are used here with GSD and it tends to affect only Percids in our local regions.
When you get into larger bodies such as yours, Primary habitat and secondary habitat become more of a separate issue/area and there are more complex habits formed by your populations which become harder to predict by even the most experienced of fisheries managers.
I would also mention that it IS GOOD to find reputable suppliers that have references to back their recommendations. Not all private sector fish farms are created equal... some want to sell fish, some want to sell knowledge and satisfaction. Bob and his organization are in the second group and highly respected in this industry. That south country is a different animal compared to what I deal with here and I would lean hard to follow a Lusk approved source.