East Texas ponds are usually acidic and don't fair well with catfish unless treated with lime. I had ponds near Hawkins, north of Tyler, and lost every fish because I didn't know better (I've since learned much from this site). As far as bluegill overcrowding, I would't mind that problem at all -assuming that they are bluegill and not greenies. I have a pond now smaller than your's with at least 200 cats , and its has many bluegill and greenies. And, channel cat will eat bluegill if the can catch them - I've seen to many cats caught on trotlines bait with live bluegill not to realize that.
