Check for current threads in the sunfish section by Cecil Baird and Shorty on their feed training methods. In smaller numbers you can accustom the SMB to you feeding them live feed, then gradually switch to frozen/dead feed, then moistened freeze dried, then moistened pellets then hard pellets. Most species can be feed trained in this manner. I have 2 RES, 1 black crappie and 1 YP I have trained this way in my tank. I'm currently starving them for the conversion to hard pellets. They were caught as 1" fish and are now in the 3"-5" range.
http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=287829#Post287829http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=299490#Post299490SMB are harder than many species to pellet feed train. Some wild born fish may learn from larger feed trained SMB to take pellets but that would be in low numbers. You can capture small YOY and feed train them and release them. Otherwise subsequent generations of SMB will be non feed trained for the most part.
