The problem with counting on holdovers from the last stocking, is that 5,000 other people have already fished it. If you're going to go off of the stocking schedules, I always try to be within a week or two of the stock. Unless I'm in a boat. Then I don't care. Benson can be pretty decent fishing for bass or trout depending on what structures you fish. If you're just banking it from the parking lot...... IMO the best bet is to heave some bait out as far as you can get it and hope for the best. If you go around and work the structures (rocks, plants, rootballs) you're going to have a lot better time with hardware or even power bait.