FTB
A new concept magnetic brake that prioritizes lightness.
Shimano's "FTB (Finesse Tune Brake System)" featured in their baitcasting reels is a magnetic braking mechanism that eliminates the brake unit from the spool, resulting in the lightest spool in Shimano's bait finesse history. This allows for trouble-free, lower-trajectory approaches, especially when using lightweight lures for bait finesse fishing.
Challenges in reducing spool weight
When using lightweight lures, reducing the spool's weight is crucial for achieving a low trajectory. Traditionally, this involved blanking out a portion of the spool, but as long as a brake unit was attached, its effectiveness was limited.
Shimano's unique braking mechanism enables long, smooth casting.
Shimano's proprietary "FTB" is a braking system optimized for bait finesse fishing. By eliminating the brake unit from the spool, it achieves weight reduction and lower spool inertia. This lower inertia improves spool rotation response, allowing for casting with less force. This makes advanced casting techniques such as low-trajectory casts just above the water's surface and skipping casts over obstacles easier, enabling more precise control.
Pursuing the lightest spool for bait finesse fishing.
How does the FTB's magnetic brake differ from conventional magnetic brakes? Conventional magnetic brakes require a component that receives magnetic force from the spool to control its rotation. The FTB, however, applies magnetic force directly to the spool itself, suppressing its rotation and eliminating the need for this component. This significantly reduces the weight of the spool.
Pinpoint casting at will
The new FTB system featured in the "Aldebaran BFS" and "Calcutta Conquest BFS" successfully reduces the influence of magnetism during minimum braking by placing a magnetic ring inside the dial case. This contributes to low-trajectory flip casts with ultra-light lures. In addition, the increased range of motion of the brake unit allows for finer brake adjustments, improving adaptability to different situations.