For a little over a year, the buzz around the line-manufacturing industry has been about the Gamma Technologies fluorocarbon line. Gamma is a Pennsylvania-based company noted formerly as a tennis and fly-fishing product manufacturer. It entered the bass fishing marketplace and hit the ground running.

Pros like Greg Hackney, Matt Herren, Terry Scroggins, Mark Tucker and Brent Chapman have touted the virtues of this line. Many have said its low visibility, toughness and durability have aided them in their finishes.

Gamma is not only building premier fluorocarbon, but also makes a top-notch copolymer as well. Anglers are finding out about it and the interest continues to mount.

Tom Ference, Gamma product line manager, knows why. “It has never been our goal to build the cheapest product, only the best," he said. "Whether it is fluorocarbon or mono, we try to take the hassle out of our products. For example, all nylon lines can be made stronger, but with strength comes stiffness.

"The Gamma process retains the strength and abrasion resistance that make anglers want to use it, but it also does away with the stiffness. Most anglers get enthused when they see the line because of the strength and durability, but mainly because of its diameter, they buy it.”

Ference added: "Some people are misguided in thinking that copolymer lines are more than one filament, and this is not true. A copolymer is a blended process. We build both copolymer and fluorocarbon based on the angler application. For example, our copolymer is much better suited for topwater fishing and fluorocarbon is better for clear-water and subsurface applications.”

Fluorocarbon is a bit more expensive and, as mentioned above, isn’t for every application.

Our Tests

As we always do at BassFan, we set the manufacturing hype and advertising jargon aside and put the Gamma High Performance copolymer to the test. We fished frogs, crankbaits, jigs and tubes with 14-, 17- and 20-pound test.

As with most lines when they are first spooled, Gamma Copolymer casted effectively with zero spool memory. The proof in quality is staying power and without question, this line remained flexible even after multiple trips. Anglers typically change their line quite often, but for this test we left one rod spooled for over a month. The line remained supple and no spool memory was noted.

One particular day during testing, the winds were 20-25 mph, but even casting against the wind we noticed fewer backlashes. This is a result of the line's suppleness.

The diameter of the line in each category is smaller than others we have seen. Without giving up strength, Gamma casted extremely well, was indeed abrasion resistant and held up well under both open-water and heavy-cover applications.

This is one tough line. We fished a topwater frog on the 14-pound over trees and blowdowns and when the bait got snagged up, it was nearly impossible to break. It also had very low stretch and excellent sensitivity. No breakoffs were noted and the bait would stay on top and worked as designed. It also was particularly effective with buzzbaits.

We flipped and pitched trees and riprap with 20-pound test and did not have a single problem with breakoffs or frays.

Notable

> Gamma copolymer comes in clear, moss green, and fluorescent blue and is available in
4- through 40-pound tests.

> Break strength is higher, allowing anglers to downsize – maybe two sizes in some circumstances.

> Prices are based on pound-test and 330-yard spools start at $8.95.