How does one avoid short stikes?

[Bauerus]

I am getting ready for my annual northern Michigan fishing excursion.

Last year one a small inland lake in northern Michigan I was going after smallmouth where the previous year I caught the 3rd largest smallie reported that year for eh state.

Most of he big ones were caught near dusk and just after dark in August.  Last year using a black Jitterbug just as the lure hit the water I has a hit that snapped the 10 lb test braided line.  It was just dark enough I could not see anything but what I heard was like a cinder block hitting the water.  I was able to retrieve the lure and about 50 of line the next day as it was floating on the surface. For the next 4 nights I had new line and continued trying with surface baits.

I was continually getting short strikes and explosive hits that essentially just knocked the lure in the air but never hooked any of these big one.

Having fished the area for eh past 15 years I have not previously experienced anything like this.  For my spinner baits I use trailing hooks and trimmed skirts and that avoids short strikes.

Any ideas form those of you with more experience?  I am suspecting size of lure may have been the problem.  I lost my small black Jitterbug and the only black Jitterbug replacement locally available was the larger size.  I am assuming that the lure was simply too big form eh small mouths, assuming that what was hitting the lure. I suspected Moby Pike, but then Pike rarely miss if they hit my lures and I lost far too may lures last year to huge unwanted pike.

Thanks for any feed back.

I have a few weeks to continue planning before I leave Belize and head north for the real fishing.

[Triton21]

Have another rod ready with soft plastic or another slow sinking lure and throw to the misssed fish.   Also you can add a trailer hook to any bait.

Kelley

[Guest avid]

I don't think the size of the bait had anything to do with it.  They don't call em largemouth for nothin'

Sometimes bass will smash into a bait as if to stun it.

Just let it sit there.  Let it sit some more.  Keep sitting

Now twitch it.

You may be delighted at the response.

[roadwarrior]

Welcome aboard!

As avid noted, let the lure sit for a moment and then work it as you were when the fish struck.

Bass often (usually) come back.