With Nib & DZ here totally! Yes, for sure 6x VMCs must be in your arsenal IF hunting Large in heavy rocks/ structure!
Yes, to me a VMC 4x treble is very prone to bending out on a big fish! (talking Bass here only!). And Scott not just with Braid & locked down drags: I'm a mono.- only guy too (still!)... & have had 4xs lose me good fish half a dozen times! Usually they are ones used on big Wood, where the fish can get leverage-- or even if not, IF the Cow can get you down in the bottom quickly in the fight (such as at PJ or Cutty or M., where hook- ups occur usually in 10' or less of H2O! 5' or less there often!
)
DO YOU need 6x trebles??
Issue # 1: are you Cow- hunting? If not particularly, stick to 4x...
Issue # 2: what plugs are you using? If they're smallish... & the swivels are suspect (or even average), then stick to 4x. Because then you'll be using lighter line/ braid, & fishing a lighter drag/ approach anyway. Under those circumstances, 4x trebles should never bend out...
Issue # 3: are you only/ mostly fishing sand beaches (i.e., Jersey front or Cape Backside, etc.), or rocks/ heavy/ sticky structure? Are there no Buoys nor Lobster Pots within casting distance where you fish... or are there many?
If yes to rocks/ pots/ moorings, etc.-- then you're fishing clamped down tight drags & heavy line I'd hope! So then 6x is for you! If you fish/ favor sand... then I'd (as in my Cape surf days) be throwing 17 lb. mono, or 20 lb. tops, on a "lighter- action" 10' rod... so for sure my plugs then would sport 4x VMCs only! A light drag... & let the fish run & tire-- & life is easy! Hooks last a full season!
Issue # 4: Back to the plug/ swivels you use. Yes, OF COURSE if bent- out treble hooks are the concern when targeting your "50," then a stout Single- hook approach (as with an Andrus Bucktail, a rigged Eel Sporting 11/0 Siwashes... or a stubby Needle w/ single heavy Siwash a la T. Coleman, or the "Pocket Rocket") is your highest- % approach! But IF you're a Wood/ plastic- loving Caster like myself-- you must live with trebles! Then you can only get the strongest/ best & have Faith there! But again: if your plug lacks a heavy duty/ X- strong swivel, no point going 6x hook-- that swivel will be what fails (SO many times w/ me on Gibbs & several others). But IF you rewire with Kroks... even your Gibbs (or any other such "suspect" swivel plug)... THEN for sure you want the 6x VMC over the 4x. BMs, Fixters, Macs, Lifishinvt, Afterhours-- go right ahead & upgrade to 6x! (their swivels being worthy!)
Issue # 5: Cutting the 6x is problematic... mostly because they seem way more brittle & resistant to the process than are the 4x (which are seemingly more malleable). I just don't trust even the 6x that do initially take to the "cutting" process, to hold after field- use as much as I do the 4x. So I (try to) only use the 6x when the plug allows an HD split- ring attachment. When the head- swivel NEEDS a cut VMC treble then I stay 4x (but often upgrade to 5/0 4x., where 4/0 is normal size...
)
Issue # 6: YES, sometimes a "heavier"/ 6x treble can negatively affect a plugs' action... but ONLY for "finnesse" or smallish plugs in my opinion/ experience! Unless you're talking about 5" Leftys, Mag Darters or 1 oz. Needles... I really don't think the slight added weight of a 6x VMC treble will affect your plug negatively at all! Certainly not if were talking about 2- 3 oz. BMs, Fixters, Habs, S.S., Tattoos, etc. (No fear/ issues there!) BUT that super- strong Owner 4x? VERY heavy!-- I'd guess 3x as heavy per size than the VMC 6x. SO... as much as I admire that Owner 4x trebles' strength: even IF it were lower in price, I would only use it on plugs where more weight in front would be a plus... ( for ex., larger Darters, Bottles, & Needles...or Cowboys/ Deep Swimmers, obviously, etc.)
OK! Now hopefully you know if 6x are for your fishing, or not! (Braid vs. mono. irrelevant!
)