I prefer to stagger the stocking vs doing it all at one time. Stock forage first, feed them, and when they have had plenty of time to spawn (maybe a year) stock predators. There’s a good chance that you ran out of groceries for the bigger fish to feed on.

My plan for a new pond: 10 pounds of fathead minnows and a like amount of 1.5 to 2 inch bluegills per acre. Feed them small pellets. After a year, stock predators(bass) of about 3 to 4 inches of length. If wanted, you can also stock small catfish of the same size as the bass. The fatheads will be gone after the first year but they will accomplished their job of feeding small fish to become the new basis of the food chain.

Unlikely that the cats will pull off a successful spawn. They are slow, go everywhere as a spawn and are easy groceries for everything else.

In a properly balanced pond, the fatheads will be eliminated in a year but will have accomplished their/your purpose.

It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.

Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.

Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP Grandpa