I can't answer the stocking ratio, but regarding the protein for catfish, they can do well on the lower protein food, as they are omnivorous. Will the higher protein food make them grow faster/bigger? Yes, but it depends on your budget and the difference isnt as noticeable in cats than it is for other species. And yes, Crappies spawn earlier than BG, so they get a head start on them, and when the first spawn of BG come off the nest, you're already going to have YoY Crappies big enough to eat them. The plus side, BG spawn multiple times a year. I was going to suggest to not do BG at all, but now that I think about it, you'll definitely want an insurance plan in case you get a year where the Crappies don't spawn at all, and your Cats won't have anything to eat, besides what's coming out of your wallet.
