FishinR is spot on with the availability comment. HSB are difficult to locate in fall. Spring is when HSB are commonly sold in Ohio. Since your pond is established IMO the best size to stock with best survival success is the 6"-8". Many of the fish farms get in the 3"-5" that for me get less % survival when stocked, especially with established fish. I also in OH get poor small HSB survival when stocked too early in spring - late May early June is best times for new HSB - IMO. Best money is spent on the 6"-8" sizes. For 1 ac and your planned goals I would stock 15-20 HSB. If it were my pond prior to stocking HSB I would make 'pond capacity' room for the HSB by removing an equal number of CC or LMB. Ponds quickly fill to fish biomass capacity due to reproduction. Ponds mainly respond to fish poundages not numbers. Currently after 1-2yrs your pond is at carrying capacity and best growth of HSB will be if the pond has open capacity space for the new HSB. Always remember as predator fish grow the total poundage tends to increases that means other fishes have fewer poundages. If you get the HSB in soon after the LMB spawn the HSB may help reduce LMB fingerlings allowing for bigger current bass. Most all ponds have too many small bass that create lack of food. Your young pond with 13"+ LMB will soon see a shortage of small fish especially this spring & summer. Guaranteed!. As time passes be watchful for numbers of small fish that you are seeing.

https://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=92440#Post92440

Last edited by Bill Cody; 10/28/22 09:27 AM.
aka Pond Doctor & Dr. Perca Read Pond Boss Magazine -
America's Journal of Pond Management