Photos: Free Spirit · supplied retailer imagery
Landing nets · Carp tackle · Our take
Free Spirit CTX Black Edition Landing Net
Free Spirit CTX Black Edition Landing Net
A smart, lightweight carp net range with the reach and size options to handle tight swims, high banks and proper big-water jobs.
- High-quality Japanese carbon construction with a matt finish to match CTX Black Edition rods.
- Supplied with deep, fish-friendly mesh as standard.
- Available as 6ft/42in, 8ft/42in and 8ft/46in configurations.
- The range is designed for carp fishing across tight swims, high banks and larger venues.
Make sure it’s the right one. This review covers the CTX Black Edition landing-net range, including the 6ft/42in, 8ft/42in and 8ft/46in configurations.
Tackle Index Score
Tackle Index score
A premium-feeling, well-targeted carp net range with genuinely useful size choices.
Desk-research score from specs, price and fishing fit · How we score
- Product Quality9.6/10
- Performance9.2/10
- Impact on Fish Catching8.8/10
- Ease of Use9/10
- Value for Money8.6/10
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Who it suits
Is it right for you?
Great for
- Carp anglers fishing high banks or awkward margins. The 8ft handle gives you useful reach when a shorter net would leave you leaning too far or scrambling down the bank.
- Anglers building a matching CTX Black Edition setup. The matt carbon finish and slim profile sit neatly alongside the CTX Black Edition rod range.
Maybe skip if
- Anglers mainly fishing tiny, cramped swims. An 8ft handle or 46in hoop can feel a bit much when there’s barely room to swing a net.
- Anyone chasing the lowest-cost landing net. This is aimed at a more premium carp setup, so the styling and carbon construction may be overkill for a basic short-session net.
The lowdown
Introducing the Free Spirit CTX Black Edition Landing Net
A smart, lightweight carp net range with the reach and size options to handle tight swims, high banks and proper big-water jobs.
- High-quality Japanese carbon construction with a matt finish to match CTX Black Edition rods.
- Supplied with deep, fish-friendly mesh as standard.
- Available as 6ft/42in, 8ft/42in and 8ft/46in configurations.
- The range is designed for carp fishing across tight swims, high banks and larger venues.
Quick verdict
A proper carp net for serious situations
The Free Spirit CTX Black Edition Landing Net looks the business and gives you useful choice rather than a one-size-fits-all setup. The slim Japanese carbon build keeps things light, while the deep fish-friendly mesh is exactly what you want when a lump is circling in the margins.
Pick the handle length and hoop size around your venue, not just your rod cosmetics. The 6ft/42in model is neat for normal swims, while the longer 8ft versions make far more sense from high banks, reed-lined margins and big venues. Not the cheapest-looking bit of kit, but a cracking match for CTX Black Edition rods and proper carp work.
A premium-feeling, well-targeted carp net range with genuinely useful size choices.
Desk-research score from specs, price and fishing fit · How we score
- Product Quality
- 9.6/10
- Performance
- 9.2/10
- Impact on Fish Catching
- 8.8/10
- Ease of Use
- 9/10
- Value for Money
- 8.6/10
Japanese carbon construction, a smart matt finish and a deep fish-friendly mesh give it a properly refined feel.
The slim build and choice of handle lengths should make fish control easier across a wide spread of swims.
It won’t find the fish for you, but the right reach, hoop size and deep mesh can make the landing stage calmer and safer.
The lightweight design and three configurations keep it practical, although the longer and larger options may feel cumbersome in cramped swims.
It looks aimed at the premium carp bracket, but the matching finish, carbon construction and configuration choice add genuine usefulness.
Head to head
How it stacks up
Side by side with the closest kit we've reviewed. This updates as we add more reviews.
Free Spirit
Free Spirit CTX Black Edition Landing Net (this one)
Top scorer
Scores are our own, out of 10. Best in each row is in green. Prices change, so check the latest before you buy.
The full rundown
Everything you'll want to know about the Free Spirit CTX Black Edition Landing Net
A landing net is one of those bits of carp kit you don’t think about until a proper lump is wallowing in front of you. Then, suddenly, reach, hoop size and mesh depth matter rather a lot. The Free Spirit CTX Black Edition Landing Net is built for that moment, with a smart carbon package aimed squarely at serious carp anglers.
The range comes in three useful configurations. There’s a 6ft handle with 42in arms, an 8ft handle with 42in arms, and an 8ft handle with 46in arms. That’s handy, mate, because a landing net shouldn’t be chosen by looks alone. Your swim, bank height and average stamp of fish should all have a say.
The 6ft/42in version is the tidy option. It should feel more at home in tighter swims where an eight-footer becomes a bit of a faff. Think close margins, snaggy little pegs and venues where you’re not trying to reach halfway across the lake. The model code for this one is NXTN560-6042.
Need more reach? The 8ft/42in model is the sensible middle ground. It keeps the 42in hoop size but gives you extra handle length for high banks, reed-lined edges and those swims where getting low to the water isn’t exactly straightforward. Its model code is NXTN560-8042.
Then there’s the big bruiser: the 8ft handle with 46in arms, model NXTN560-8046. That’s the option for larger venues, bigger carp and situations where a wider net mouth makes the final few seconds less frantic. It’s still about control, mind. A bigger hoop is no magic wand if you’re waving it around like a flag.
Construction is a big part of the appeal here. The handles use high-quality Japanese carbon, giving the range a slim, lightweight feel. That matters when you’re holding the net ready for a take, moving around the margins, or trying to guide a fish away from a snag without lugging a telegraph pole about.
The matt carbon finish is designed to match the CTX Black Edition rods. That won’t put more fish on the bank by itself, obviously, but a properly coordinated setup is still a nice thing. If your rods are already in the CTX Black Edition family, this net won’t look like it wandered over from a different tackle shop.
The supplied mesh is deep and fish-friendly, which is exactly the direction a carp net should go. Once the fish is in, you want plenty of room to keep it settled while you sort the handle and get yourself organised. Deep mesh also gives you a bit more breathing space when a lively fish has one last cheeky kick.
There’s also flexibility around the parts. Landing-net handles, arms and meshes may be available separately depending on configuration, which could be dead handy if you’re replacing a damaged component or building the setup around a particular venue. Just make sure you’re checking the exact configuration before reaching for the wallet.
Overall, this is a focused carp net range rather than a general-purpose coarse net dressed up in fancy carbon. Choose the 6ft model for compact swims, the 8ft/42in for extra reach without going huge, or the 8ft/46in when the water is big and the fish are bigger. Get that choice right and it should be a proper confidence booster when bite-time arrives.
Specifications
The nuts and bolts
- Construction
- High-quality Japanese carbon
- Finish
- Matt carbon finish to match CTX Black Edition rods
- Mesh
- Deep fish-friendly mesh supplied as standard
- 6ft configuration
- 6ft handle with 42in arms — NXTN560-6042
- 8ft configurations
- 8ft handle with 42in arms — NXTN560-8042, or 46in arms — NXTN560-8046
- Use
- Carp fishing, including tight swims, high banks and larger venues
Specs checked with Free Spirit, Oct 2026.
Spot a model or spec change?
Our take
Why the configuration matters more than the badge
Landing nets can look like a bit of an afterthought until you’re trying to draw a good fish over a snaggy margin or down a steep bank. The CTX Black Edition range is built around those awkward moments, with three useful combinations rather than one compromise design.
The key decision is simple: do you need extra reach, a bigger mouth, or both? The 6ft/42in option keeps things manageable in tighter swims. The 8ft/42in model adds reach without going oversized. The 8ft/46in version gives you the most net for larger fish and open-water situations. Match it to your fishing and you’ll avoid a lot of faff when the rods are off.
The carbon package
Slim, smart and built around the final few yards
The CTX Black Edition Landing Net uses high-quality Japanese carbon in a slim, lightweight handle design. That keeps the setup easier to manoeuvre when you’re tracking a fish along the edge or lifting the net into position for the scoop. The matt carbon finish is also made to sit alongside CTX Black Edition rods, so the whole setup looks properly joined-up.
A deep, fish-friendly mesh comes as standard. That’s the right sort of detail to get right: enough depth to settle a carp, without making the net feel like an awkward sack when you’re moving it through the water. The range is clearly aimed at carp anglers who want a refined setup rather than a cheap emergency net.
Worth knowing. There are three configurations: 6ft/42in, 8ft/42in and 8ft/46in. The model codes are NXTN560-6042, NXTN560-8042 and NXTN560-8046 respectively.
Pick your reach
Choose around your swim, not just your rods
The 6ft/42in model is the most compact choice and makes sense for lower banks, tighter swims and close-in margin fishing. The 8ft/42in version adds reach without jumping to the largest hoop, making it a useful all-rounder for anglers who regularly face awkward access to the water.
If you fish big pits, high banks or venues where a larger carp needs guiding into the net with plenty of room, the 8ft/46in version is the one to look at. It’ll take up more space and feel less nimble in a cramped swim, but that extra reach and hoop size can be bob on when the situation demands it.
Worth knowing. Don’t automatically buy the biggest option. A net that’s too long or too wide for your usual swim can create more faff than it solves. Match the handle to the bank and the hoop to the fish.
Quick answers
The bits you’ll want nailed down
The mesh is supplied as standard and is deep and fish-friendly, so you’re not starting with a bare handle and arms. That makes the range a straightforward choice for a new setup, while possible separate availability of handles, arms and meshes gives you some flexibility when replacing or changing parts.
For a regular mixed bag of carp venues, the 8ft/42in model is likely to be the easiest middle ground. It gives you reach for awkward banks while keeping the hoop more manageable than the 46in version. If most of your fishing is compact and close quarters, the 6ft/42in is less cumbersome.
Worth knowing. The exact availability of separate landing-net handles, arms and meshes can depend on the configuration. If you’re planning a replacement or custom combination, check the specific parts before ordering.
On paper
Pros & cons
What we like
- High-quality Japanese carbon construction keeps the setup slim and lightweight.
- Matt finish pairs neatly with Free Spirit CTX Black Edition rods.
- Deep, fish-friendly mesh is supplied as standard.
- Three useful handle-and-hoop combinations cover a wide spread of carp swims.
- Longer 8ft options give welcome reach from high banks and awkward margins.
Worth knowing
- The 8ft models can be more net than you need in cramped, low swims.
- A 46in hoop and long handle will take up more room in the van and on the barrow.
- The premium carbon finish and matching design may matter less if you’re purely shopping on a tight budget.
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Your questions answered
What anglers want to know
The stuff you’d ask your mate on the next peg. Straight answers, no waffle.
01Which Free Spirit CTX Black Edition Landing Net should I choose?
Which Free Spirit CTX Black Edition Landing Net should I choose?
Go for the 6ft/42in model if you mostly fish normal-height banks and tighter swims. Choose the 8ft/42in version when extra reach matters but you still want a fairly manageable hoop. The 8ft/46in model suits bigger fish, open venues and situations where a larger net mouth gives you more confidence.
02Is the mesh supplied with the net?
Is the mesh supplied with the net?
Yes. A deep, fish-friendly mesh is supplied as standard, so the setup is ready to use rather than leaving you hunting around for a separate mesh straight away.
03Can the handle, arms and mesh be bought separately?
Can the handle, arms and mesh be bought separately?
They may be available separately depending on the configuration. Check the exact option and parts availability before ordering if you’re putting together a custom setup or replacing one component.
What anglers say
The word from the bank
Our read: a proper carp net for serious situations. The strongest reasons to choose it are high-quality japanese carbon construction keeps the setup slim and lightweight. and matt finish pairs neatly with free spirit ctx black edition rods.; the main trade-off is the 8ft models can be more net than you need in cramped, low swims..
Our take on the feedback
Why it appeals
Checked Sept '26 — “High-quality Japanese carbon construction keeps the setup slim and lightweight.”
Best fit
Checked Sept '26 — “Carp anglers fishing high banks or awkward margins: The 8ft handle gives you useful reach when a shorter net would leave you leaning too far or scrambling down the bank.”
Worth knowing
Checked Sept '26 — “The 8ft models can be more net than you need in cramped, low swims.”
Tackle Index’s take from the product details and fishing fit we checked. We haven’t found enough independent public feedback to call this an angler consensus yet.
Angler score
What our readers rate Free Spirit CTX Black Edition Landing Net
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Owner reports
Own this? Help the next angler.
Quick multiple-choice reports from people who say they own the Free Spirit CTX Black Edition Landing Net. Not verified purchases, and kept separate from our score.
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