VMC 6X hooks

[Diggin Jiggin]

There is definitely a difference between the 4x vmc's and the 6x.

Back in June when I was on good fish on topwater, some of the bigger fish were bending the 4x hooks when they crashed the plug on the hit. I fish a light drag but even so I had 2 or 3 trebles bent. Also if the fish gets both the front and rear hooks in their mouth, they can leverage even the 6X trebles. Biggest fish I had on this year did that after playing with a pencil for almost 50 yards. It finally took it and after about 5 seconds it bent two prongs of a 6x vmc and the 6/0stainless siwash. It also stretched out the belly swivel which was just one of the big rosco ones as I need long swivels in my pencils. I was kind of suprised to see the 6x's fail before the rosco swivel.

[LeCounts1099]

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! )

[NIB]

Originally Posted by Diggin Jiggin

There is definitely a difference between the 4x vmc's and the 6x.

Back in June when I was on good fish on topwater, some of the bigger fish were bending the 4x hooks when they crashed the plug on the hit. I fish a light drag but even so I had 2 or 3 trebles bent. Also if the fish gets both the front and rear hooks in their mouth, they can leverage even the 6X trebles. Biggest fish I had on this year did that after playing with a pencil for almost 50 yards. It finally took it and after about 5 seconds it bent two prongs of a 6x vmc and the 6/0stainless siwash. It also stretched out the belly swivel which was just one of the big rosco ones as I need long swivels in my pencils. I was kind of suprised to see the 6x's fail before the rosco swivel.

On my pencils I use a 6x 4/0 on the front and a 4x or 6x 5/0 on the rear..
The siwash is a joke..Too much point.If u don't bury it to the bend (there are lots of spots on a bass where this won't happen)it will open.I only use size 6H split rings..Wolverines are No Good.The wider splitring gets started easier when torqued right.Once that happens Poof they are gone.If u need a longer swivel spro makes em.I use em up to size 2/0.I believe it is a 370 lb swivel.1/0 is a 330 lber..I just squeze the loop slightly to make em fit.I have never had one come close to failure..