Since you only have 20 SMB you might as well leave them in the tote and see how many survive. It is not worth the time and effort to remove just 14-15 fish. It is possible that the LMB are harassing the SMB enough to cause stress and death. Time will tell more about this. Do the SMB appear segregated, more isolated and to be higher in the tank or near the surface or one corner? If so intimidation and stress is a factor.
You will probably have to feed worms mixed into pellets for about a week to get the bass fully conditioned to eating pellets. Then gradually over 3-4 days use less worm flavoring. I assume you are using "Aquamax for Carnivors" pellets? What number size of pellet?.
