Basically you just have to try some of your local species and see what spawns. Trial and error. Many stream species will live in a pond but will not successfully reproduce due to lack of running water.
This is the list that I have come across so far that seems like they would be worthwhile:
Fathead Minnows
Bluntnose Minnows
Banded Killifish
Eastern Mud minnows
Golden Shiners
Spotfin Shiners
Satinfin Shiners
Red Shiners
Spottail Shiners
Lake Chubsuckers
I have been doing a lot of research on the caloric value of certain forages over another, but finding one suitable for life in a bass ponds has been tough. Research shows that carp are HIGHLY calorically dense and that in areas where you find giant flathead catfish, they are usually hammering carp. I know that common carp are a no no, but might there be a smaller species of carp that could make a suitable prey item that would be high in lipids to grow bigger bass? Maybe some species of carp where a true giant was only a few pounds and the majority of them could be gobbled up by bigger bass? Again, I'm ignorant to all of this lol. Just asking opinions
