.... My friend throws out fish feed daily next to the dam, .....
I don't know the depth of the water at your dam but, FWIW my small BG hang in shallow water and that is where I feed them. I would try feeding yours next to cover in shallow water.
+1 on small pellets. I feed 46% Skretting 3 mm (a little less than 1/8 inch) pellets in shallow water and it is hammered by small YP and BG.