My family has had several small (1/3 to 2/3 acre) ponds in central Texas. It's possible to do a bluegill/largemouth bass/channel catfish pond, but let me stress a few things:

-LMB and BG. Either stock both, or don't stock either.

-You can have a channel catfish only pond, that's actually pretty common. If you want, you and your family can start by only stocking fathead minnows and channel cats. If you decide to down the line, you can add bass and bluegill.

-Consider aeration. Given how small this pond is going to be, an aerator will really help prevent oxygen depletion fish kills and will effectively make your pond larger. Small ponds in TX usually stratify, with much of the water deeper than 5 feet or so being oxygen depleted so that fish can't live in it. If you aerate, that deeper water will be usable for the fish, effectively increasing the pond's volume without requiring any more earthwork.


Ponds in TX, lake place in WI, me in CA