Academy
Back to Academy searchKevin Grix
His current personal best in the UK is a 50lb 5oz Common,this is his second 50lb+ UK Carp, His European PB is a 53lb 10oz Mirror Carp.
Kevin is an instinctive angler who rates watercraft and bait application as two of the most important aspects of Carp fishing. He is inventive and meticulous in his approach & construction of his terminal tackle.
Watch Kev's Video Introduction
News from Kevin Grix – 26th October 2009
“I arranged a weeklong trip to Etang La Saussaie with two friends, Garry Roberts (Mav) & fellow academy member ,Tony Makepeace.
“On arrival we drew straws for choice of swim, which I managed first choice. I opted for the far end of the lake, at its widest point where the water level was down nearly one meter from my previous visit in the spring.
“The lake is well stocked with a good average weight of fish. The bailiff, Tommy (Marra) informed us that apart from the main stock of thirty and forty pound fish the lake held about five fish over fifty pounds, one over sixty and one over seventy. After a bit of investigation, I had selected my spots to fish, one to my right was fished along the margin with a light scattering of bait, the other two fished in open water, to a hard clay spot that ran diagonally away from the bank, these two rods were positioned at either end of the spot, with approx two to three kilo's of Premiers finest Matrix deposited mainly in the middle. I do tend to fish off the main baited area. All baits were fished critically balanced, the margin rod on 14" of 20lb braid with the distance rods on nylon / braid, combi link style.
“Right enough of the technical bit. During the first night I managed a 31lb common when, at 4am the margin rod was away, slow and steady, as I connected with the fish. The Torsion pulled around to its full compression - I don't think the carp knew it had been hooked! Steadily stripping line from the clutch like I had hooked a number 55 bus, the fish put up a terrific account of itself and my heart missed several beats as it plundered the margin. As she slipped into the net I could see it was a real lump! She pulled the scales round to finally settle at 54lb 12oz - A new PB mirror Yea Ha!!!!!!! and I still had the rest of the week ahead! Mr Makepeace did the honours with the camera, I was well chuffed.
“Margin rod re-baited and coffee in hand it was time to sit back and reflect on what I had just caught -a new PB mirror, what a great feeling. No time for reflecting, the middle rod roared into life, on connecting with it, I informed Mav and Tony that it felt like another good fish, that's when the banter started, both ribbing me about the golden colour of parts of my anatomy. Anyway with the lake now being quite shallow, the fish rolled on the surface several times during the fight, so we could all see a nice common on its way to the net, Nice common!! It blew us all away as it rolled into the net, it again looked huge, with a massive broad back. I struggled to lift the net, with assistance from Mav, we laid it on the unhooking mat, stood back to admire the size and condition of this pristine carp. Hands shaking I lifted the weigh sling this time the scales settled on 51lb 14oz, another PB for a Common, Yea Ha again !!! A brace of fifties - a common and a mirror.
“Over the next couple of days my luck did not change, taking four more thirty pound fish and 43lb 2oz mirror, that was until the weather changed. We had our first frost and the lake seemed to die a death over night, for two days and nights the temperature hardly rose above freezing. We were now on our last day, when the heavens opened and it poured down, which in turn raised the temperature slightly. I had not touched the rods for a couple of days, preferring to just leave them alone, as I was still confident with the areas. I find many anglers will reel in, re-bait then cast them back out to the exact position, which in turn disrupts the swim unnecessarily.
“At 4.20am the margin rod bleeped a couple of times. I got out to investigate and noticed the bobbin slowly lift up as far as the clip and then stop. We had all suffered from many line bites during the week and I pulled the line out of the clip, slackened the line off and replaced the bobbin, the bobbin shot out of my hand and slammed against the buzzer. Standing in total darkness, it took a few seconds to realise what had just happened, I had cast out to my right, but as I tightened down to the fish it was round to my left, the fish had kited with a steady pressure, I had used a back lead to keep the line pinned to the bottom.
“The fish kited alright! Straight through my other lines, buzzers lit up like a Christmas tree. Somehow I coached the whole sorry looking mess to the bank, still very dark I heard a huge swirl just out in front of me. At the very same time my line locked solid and I couldn't gain another inch! I flicked my head torch on, four feet off the bank laid another huge looking mirror. I grabbed the net and as carefully and steadily as I dare, sank the net. One more lunge and I would loose it for sure, but it just laid on the surface allowing me to lift the net around it. I let out a little Yea-Ha! to myself! On the scales it recorded 45lb 6oz - another stunning mirror. It was now half light, so I popped her it a sack while I arranged the camera etc, ( I had already packed them away as we were setting off first thing in the morning.) I had to go and tell Tony what had just happened, and ask for his very best David Bailey impression with the camera. On arrival in his swim, before I could share my news, Tony pointed to his rods, with a very large grin on his face. He had also just put a fish in the sack and was on his way to get me, Tony's fish though dwarfed mine, his new PB of 54lb 8oz Mirror.”
(Well done again mate)
All the best till next time!
Kevin G
News from Kevin - 7th August 2009
"As I can only get the time to fish every other weekend, I found myself in one of my favourite swims on the lake for the first time this year.It’s one of the most consistent swims on the lake, very weedy and between six to eight feet deep.
"I managed to locate three reasonably clear spots that I would be confident in, that the bait presentation would be clear. Rigs were balanced and fished on sliding “D” rigs, two presented on braided hook links and the third on my trusted nylon, whipped to a size 10 hook with two kilo’s of Premier boilies deposited between the three areas. During the first night I received no action, although still confident of the presentation I decided not to rebait. Around 2am of the second night the sounder box alerted me to a take. My first time out using the new Greys Torsion 12ft 2.75lb rods, I was a bit apprehensive as I had used the X-Flites for the past couple of years. However, I shouldn’t have had any concern as the crisp action allows every movement of the fish to be transmitted through the blank and the rod hooped over to its full battle curve.
"The fish made a good account of itself trying to seek sanctuary in the dense weed beds, each time being coaxed away, with the rod held high and in full compression. As she rolled across the landing net, I could hardly believe my eyes “The Big Common” again! She settled the digital scales at 50lb 7oz, two ounces bigger than my previous capture and a new Personal Best. I am over the moon to say the least!"
Kevin
News from Kevin - 26th April 2009
"Fishing a syndicate water recently weather conditions looked very favourable, with a light south westerly blowing and overcast. I choose to bait up with approx two kilos of bait, with a concentration of bait in one area and a scattering around the general area and the baited rod was fished just off the main area. Although a couple of fish made their presence known during the evening I received no action and, as my confidence was still high I rebaited and topped up the swim.
"Early the next morning I received a short take, weeding me up immediately. The fish managed to free itself applying a steady pressure as the X-Flites took up an impressive fighting curve, subduing the powerful lunges the fish gave. The fish came onto the surface, its immense tail broke leaving me in no doubt that I was connected to one very large carp. As she slipped into the net I was not wrong - 43lb 9oz of pristine mirror carp, one of the largest that the lake holds."
Kevin
News from Kevin - 11th April 2009
"A session on Lac Saussaie (France) was arranged for a friend and myself. I have fished the lake in the past, not an easy water by French standards, the fish being very line shy, we had the lake to ourselves for a week; the lake approx 12 acres, is set in matured surroundings, with good facilities on site.
"The lake contains a good head of fish, the largest being a common of 72lb. Most days started overcast with light rain clearing as the day went on. All of my runs came during the early hours as I had 7 fish between 32lb & 46lb 11oz and Gary's best was a 45lb common.
"During the session I used the new Chub Euro X-tra Carp Cradle which offers the ultimate protection of any unhooking mat that I have ever used - a truly impressive piece if kit."
Kevin
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