craig n. Consider this. Start out with only SMB and see how the pond develops for several years - maybe 4-5yrs or until the bgills start getting out of hand. Your cats will help control bgill depending on density of each. You may have to also manually thin the bgills to keep their numbers down. Then if the SMB donot work out, you can stock LMB and they will eventually dominate. This way you will have a good established population of adult SMB in the fishery till they eventually die out or dwindle out. You could protect them somewhat by only harvesting LMB.
Another option, is since the pond has no fish yet, stock fatheads and shiners in the spring so they can spawn during summer and fingerling SMB in the fall. If you want a panfish add yellow perch the first spring or 1st fall and then SMB the 2nd or 3rd fall. When you tire of this fishery add your bgill, cats and LMB and they will become dominate after 5-8 years.
Only add cats if you plan to catch and eat them on a regular basis. They are not bottom cleaners.
Since the pond is not full yet, get some coarse gravel spawning beds made before the 3'-4' depth is covered with water. Use washed or smooth gravel the size of bing cherries to golf balls or a little larger. Spawning beds will improve the likelihood of successful SMB spawns.
