GSH are there to provide an alternative forage fish besides FHM. If they aren't stocked, then the only forage fish for the LMB and CC are CNBG and minimally RES. RES don't reproduce enough to be a single source forage fish for LMB, and they are needed in ponds to control snails.
After the first year or two, the FHM will be all eaten and the YOY Golden Shiners (and adults) will become forage for the LMB, depending on how fast the LMB grow.
The craws probably aren't available in Feb, or they want to harvest them for stocking in ponds after they reproduce for the first time that year. They are either bycatch from fish farms when seining their ponds, raised in ponds strictly for harvest, or they could also be purchased as food craws for humans from fish suppliers that supply them to the food market..
Did they tell you what species of crayfish would be stocked?
If you want to get some underwater vegetation established in your pond, I would hold off on stocking the crayfish until you have some established.
Thank you for all the info! I believe the crayfish are Red Swamp?
