Anything but wiry and stiff, Gamma's Frog Hair FC makes
Fluorocarbon leader manageable

Date: |
12/22/03 |
Tackle type: |
Fly Line |
Manufacturer: |
Gamma Technologies |
Reviewer: |
Zander |
Total Score: 8.6
Introduction:
Fluorocarbon leaders and tippets offer fantastic refractive capabilities, adding
up to increased stealth, but are often stiff and hard to work with, especially
when fishing with incredibly undersized flies. Gamma Technologies introduces
Frog Hair, an innovative new tippet which offers all the advantages of 100%
Fluorocarbon, but making it extra manageable, stronger, and more shock
resistant.
Gamma Frog Hair FC
5X
Specifications |
Colors/Patterns |
1
available (clear) |
Base
Material |
100%
Fluorocarbon |
Line
wt's available |
10+ |
Weight Tested |
5X = 4.4lb
IFGA Class |
Avg.
Diameter (4lb) |
0.152mm (0.006inch) |
Leader Spool Tested |
25
Meters |
MSRP |
$12.99 (25 meters) |
About Gamma Technologies:
Gamma Technologies is a
sports research company that concentrates on the development, testing, and
evaluation of advanced sports products. Gamma’s latest products include three
new fly fishing tippets and leaders. These include Frog Hair (copolymer), Frog
Hair FC (100% fluorocarbon), and Deep Blue (saltwater specific). In addition
Gamma has designed easy to use leader tying kits and tools to help anglers
customize their leaders to match individual conditions.
Impressions:
Gamma’s Frog Hair FC comes
packaged in a lightweight spool that fits easily in your vest, or on a fly
fishing lanyard. Packaging of tippets is very important as ease of use is a high
priority when you find yourself tying on new tippets on a rivers edge, or
standing next to a prime flow. The spool features an octagon shape with soft
edges; this allows for a firmer grip then those offered by standard circle
spools. The spools lock together for easy organization and storage. In addition an elastic
retaining band extends over the tippet so it doesn’t
unfurl from the spool, and each band is clearly labeled for quick identification.
 |
Frog Hair
comes on a ergonomic interlocking spool, and is easy to string on or tuck
into any fly vest |
Gamma Process:
Gamma uses a proprietary
process to actually alter the molecular structure of the fluorocarbon material,
creating millions of intermolecular bonds throughout the line. The result is a
“cross linked” molecular structure that is stronger, more abrasion resistant,
and still more flexible then traditional fluorocarbon lines.
 |
Frog Hair is
extremely manageable, and it is easy to switch tippets quickly |
Real World Test: To test the Frog Hair
Leader we conducted cast tests at a local reservoir, then headed up to the base
of the sierras to try the new leader on some shrewd Browns. We used a GLoomis
4wt rod paired with a Bauer Junior Mac (JM1) spooled with Scientific Anglers Air
Cel fly line.
 |
Small
diameter and excellent knot strength make Frog hair a great choice for
small to medium sized flies |
Stealth:
The number one reason why
fluorocarbon is so popular is due to the underwater invisibility the material
offers. Frog Hair is 100% pure fluorocarbon, but undergoes Gamma’s unique
process to improve line strength and manageability while still maintaining the
superior refractive capabilities of traditional fluorocarbon. The thin mm
diameter of this line combined with the fluorocarbon material makes the line
near invisible to fish, even in the clearest water. To test this we went fishing
in slow running streams for extremely diffident Browns. We found the line to be
exceptional for both dry and wet flies. Browns that spook at the first sign of
danger, readily committed to snapping up our flies. We switched out to a
standard monofilament tippet and noticed the similar amount of strikes on dry flies, but
a significantly reduced strike percentage when teasing trout with wet flies.
 |
Test casting
demonstrated the excellent presentation capabilities afforded to anglers
who will appreciate the characteristics of pure fluorocarbon, now with
excellent suppleness |
Presentation:
Because Gamma’s process
makes Frog Hair more supple then normal fluorocarbon it feels
unlike any other fluorocarbon based tippet we have ever fished with. When fishing dry
flies with stiff fluorocarbon the fly presentation always seems to suffer as the
lines tend to exhibit memory, and the flies often
are positioned at undesirable angles. Frog hair on the other hand is limp enough to present in an
exact straight line with your cast. This allows you to drop your flies exactly
where you want them to. When fishing extremely light flies this suppleness
really shows it's value, and I was able to lob the smallest flies into particularly
constricted areas.

|
Shy brookies
and browns quickly committed to flies tied with Frog Hair |
Durability:
Tying knots with traditional fluorocarbon is a little more difficult then plain
monofilament due to the stiffness of the line. Frog Hair is much easier to securely tie a variety of knots with. I found it easy to switch
out even the smallest flies even while standing in the middle of running water.
During our tests we hooked into some really hard hitting little trout. these
browns would strike the fly and realize immediately that something was wrong,
turn the other way and flip about in a mad effort to shake the small barbless
hooks. During our field tests we had fewer drop off's and for a while we couldn't figure out
why that was the case, since I often lost fish using the exact same fly. What I
later discovered was that the suppleness of the Frog's Hair actually acts offers
increased shock resistance, which helps prevent break offs from hard-hitting
strikes. While the line helps you land more fish by resisting line breaking
shock, it still offers exceptionally good feel.
Ratings:
Gamma Frogs Hair
FC 5X
Ratings (?/10) |
Construction/Quality |
Here is a 100% fluorocarbon line that allows you to take advantage of the
refractive capabilities of fluorocarbon and still enjoy the manageability of
much more supple lines. The tippet is also durable and memory free |
9 |
Performance |
This tippet is very high quality exhibiting very good results in our test.
Overall an excellent performing tippet |
9 |
Price |
The
downside to getting your cake and eating it too is that you have to pay for
it. Frog Hair FC is more expensive then traditional tippet, but if your
looking for ultra manageable fluorocarbon then it's a small price to pay |
7.5 |
Features |
Not
Applicable |
N/A |
Design
(Ergonomics) |
You
can tell a lot of science went into the formulation of this line. Gamma
basically took out all the pain and weaknesses of using traditional pure
fluorocarbon lines |
8.5 |
Application |
This material is excellent and Gamma makes Frog hair FC in the easy to use
spool we reviewed as well as in pre-made tapered leaders. the line is
available in multiple weights and can be used for everything from fly
fishing for palm sized Brookies to big bad Billy Bass |
9 |
Total Score |
8.6 |
Pluses and Minuses:
Plus
Minus |
J
Great manageability |
L
More expensive then traditional tippets |
J
Shock resistant |
L
May be hard to find in some areas |
J
Excellent Stealth |
|
J
Better presentations of small flies |
|
Conclusion: Frog Hair is extraordinarily strong for its
diameter, and offers unique attributes that make it not only effective to fish
with fluorocarbon, but finally easy as well. The advanced process that this line
undergoes is pure advanced science, but the benefits to anglers is simple...more
hookups from shy fish, and less fish lost to aggressive strikes. This tippet
amazed me in that Gamma found a way to make a line so supple, and still so
incredibly sensitive. You truly feel like you are connected to the fish the
minute you hook up. Though a little more expensive then traditional tippets, fly
fisherman who are keen on the stealth attributes of fluorocarbon definitely
should appraise this inventive new creation.
Until next time...Tight Lines!
