I've never fed pond fish, but I wonder if the people who formulate fish pellets aren't focusing excessively on nutrition to the exclusion of feeding behavior. Nutrition is obviously important, but it isn't maximized if the fish don't eat as much as they should.
Seems to me that the fish food producers, and therefore pond managers, would benefit from using the vast amount of research done by those who produce fishing baits. I think something like the "real food" baits that would sink very slowly would be nice. A rubbery or "natural" soft texture might encourage finicky fish, especially while training them.
Keith, just out of curiosity have you ever tried feeding them the natural bait that you bought?
