FTX is a pure fluorocarbon mainline in a mist grey tint. Fluorocarbon carries a high molecular density, so it is heavy enough to sink unaided and settle down across the lakebed from tip to terminal rather than hanging in the water column.

Clear fluorocarbon has one weak spot — it glows in daylight as soon as it collects particulate, and that shows badly anywhere the line is held up off the bottom by thick weed or a steep-sided feature. The tint absorbs much of that light and keeps FTX subdued in exactly those situations.

Stretch is low, so drops come back crisp and positive when you are being fussy about hookbait placement. It does not absorb water and UV does not affect it, so a spool goes on working for several seasons where a copolymer wants changing annually. It also gives you an option on waters where braided mainlines are prohibited.

Which spool?

• 14lb (0.35mm) – the finer of the two. Open water and clean gravel, where casting range matters more than abrasion.
• 16lb (0.37mm) – two hundredths thicker, for weed, bars and anything with an edge on it.
• 200m – one reel's worth.
• 600m – marked at 200m, 300m and 400m, so it splits across two or three reels without measuring anything.

Specification

• 100% fluorocarbon, mist grey tint
• 14lb – 0.35mm · 16lb – 0.37mm (7.26kg)
• Level wound 200m and 600m spools
• 600m spools carry line markers at 200m, 300m and 400m
• Sinks unaided, unaffected by UV, does not absorb water

Knots and loading

A five-turn grinner, a two-turn tucked blood or a figure-of-eight loop all hold well in it. Before loading, stand the spool in a bucket of lukewarm water for a few moments to lubricate the line, then let it spin catherine-wheel style while you pinch the line above the reel to keep tension steady.