Thinking Anglers FTX Fluorocarbon Mainline
Product Information
The Thinking Anglers FTX is a pure fluorocarbon main line with a mist-grey tint for situations where the line is held above the lakebed by weed or steep-sided features. When particles collect on the line in daylight, the tint absorbs much of that light and makes it less visible.
Its high-molecular-density material is heavy and sinks effectively, settling down unobtrusively. Reduced stretch gives crisp, positive drops, while the line is hard wearing, unaffected by UV and does not take up water.
It comes in 14lb at 0.35mm and 16lb at 0.37mm, on level-wound 200m and 600m spools. A five-turn Grinner, two-turn Tucked Blood or Figure-of-Eight Loop knot is recommended, and the 600m spools carry markers at 200m, 300m and 400m.
Featured in our Best Carp Fishing Line guide.
Thinking Anglers FTX Fluorocarbon Mainline Review
Clear fluorocarbon has a weakness that's easy to overlook. Once particles settle on it in daylight, it can glow, and that's exactly what Thinking Anglers set out to fix with FTX. It's a pure fluorocarbon mainline with a mist grey tint that soaks up much of that light, so the line stays hard to spot even where weed or a steep slope holds it off the bottom.
It's a dense, heavy line that sinks well, and the reduced stretch gives you crisp, positive bite indication. You get 14lb or 16lb, on 200m or 600m level-wound spools, and the bigger spool is marked so you can split it.
It's a pricey line per metre, but overall I think it's a really well thought-out fluoro for anglers who sweat the small details of presentation.
Strength & Abrasion
FTX is built to be hard wearing, and the spec backs that up. It isn't affected by UV and doesn't absorb water, so it avoids the wet and dry cycles a copolymer goes through, which should help it keep its strength for longer.
The strains are 14lb at 0.35mm and 16lb at 0.37mm. That's a little thicker for the strain than the Korda Kontour, which gets 15lb and 18lb into the same diameters, so you give up a touch of strength per millimetre.
Thinking Anglers recommend a five-turn Grinner, a two-turn Tucked Blood or a Figure-of-Eight Loop, and I'd stick to those, because fluoro can be fussy about knots.
Is 16lb enough? For most open-water and weedy carp fishing, I think it is, though I'd want something heavier for really nasty snags. Overall, it's a tough, long-lasting line rather than a heavy-duty one.
Casting & Handling
FTX is built around presentation first, and I think that shows in the handling. The advice is to soak the line briefly in lukewarm water before spooling to lubricate and soften it, which suggests to me it isn't the limpest line around.
The diameters are a fraction thicker for the strain than the Kontour, which won't help distance, and a dense fluoro is never going to feel as easy as a soft mono like the Fox Exocet Pro.
On the plus side, the reduced stretch should give you a clear feel of the lead going down, which helps with precise hookbait placement.
The brand's spooling advice is worth following too, with the line tied on via a Grinner loop and wound on under steady tension so it beds down neatly. Overall, it's perfectly usable at normal carp ranges, but I'd look elsewhere if long-range casting is your priority.
Presentation
So, why the grey tint? Thinking Anglers designed it for spots where the line is held above the lake bed, over thick weed or down a steep-sided feature.
In daylight, a clear fluoro that's collected particles can glow, while the mist grey tint absorbs much of that light and keeps the line less visible.
Lower down, the high-density material does the rest. It's heavy, sinks effectively and settles unobtrusively, so fish moving through the swim are less likely to notice it, From the photos, it's a smoky grey line on the reel rather than a clear one.
I think that's a smarter answer to the problem than relying on a clear line alone, and it's the detail that sets FTX apart from the Korda Kontour. Overall, it presents superbly, especially on weedy or heavily featured waters.
Is it good value for money?
So, can you justify the price? FTX costs more per metre than the Korda Kontour and far more than any bulk mono, and with only two breaking strains to choose from, it isn't a line for every situation.
The 600m spool helps a bit, because markers at 200m, 300m and 400m let you split it two or three ways across your reels. Because it doesn't absorb water or weaken under UV, the cost per season should look kinder than the shelf price, although I'd still call it a premium buy.
Overall, I'd recommend FTX to careful anglers who fish weedy or steep-sided waters, or venues where braided mainline is banned, and who'll pay extra for a line that stays hard to see when it's lifted off the bottom.
If you'd rather keep costs down, the Kontour gets you most of the way for less.
Pros
- Mist grey tint cuts glare where weed holds the line up
- Dense pure fluorocarbon that sinks well and settles unobtrusively
- Reduced stretch gives crisp, positive bite indication
- Unaffected by UV and doesn't absorb water, so it lasts
- 600m spool has markers at 200m, 300m and 400m
Cons
- Dearest per metre, and far pricier than any bulk mono
- Only 14lb and 16lb, slightly thicker for the strain than Kontour
Features and Specifications
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Breaking strain | 14lb or 16lb |
| Diameter | 0.35mm at 14lb, 0.37mm at 16lb |
| Spool lengths | 200m or 600m |
| 600m spool markers | 200m, 300m and 400m |
| Line material | Pure fluorocarbon main line |
| Colour tint | Mist grey |
| Stretch | Reduced stretch |
| UV and water resistance | Unaffected by UV and does not absorb water |
How It Compares
See how the Thinking Anglers FTX Fluorocarbon Mainline compares with other carp fluorocarbon line on overall score and current price.
| Name | Price | Overall Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Thinking Anglers FTX Fluorocarbon Mainline | £29.95 | |
| Shimano Technium Line 1/4lb | £22.49 | |
| Fox Exocet Pro Low Vis Green | £20.99 | |
| Gardner GT HD Low Vis Green Line | £19.95 | |
| Korda Kontour Fluorocarbon | £20.99 | |
| Korda Subline Brown Ultra Tough Sinking Mono | £15.39 | |
| Daiwa Sensor Bulk Spool | £10.99 | |
| Trakker Mono Reel Line 1000m | £12.99 | |
| Korda Basix Main Line | £4.19 |
Price History
Tracked shop prices over time.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What breaking strains does Thinking Anglers FTX Fluorocarbon Mainline come in?
It comes in 14lb and 16lb breaking strains.
What spool lengths are made for Thinking Anglers FTX Fluorocarbon Mainline?
The line comes on 200m and 600m spools.
Which knots are recommended for Thinking Anglers FTX Fluorocarbon Mainline?
A five-turn Grinner, two-turn Tucked Blood or Figure-of-Eight Loop knot is recommended.
Does Thinking Anglers FTX Fluorocarbon Mainline have spool markers?
Its 600m spools have markers at 200m, 300m and 400m.
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