The photographs began appearing a year ago: pictures of the catches that anglers usually only dream about, all pinned to the wall of a thatched lodge on the banks of the Avon in Dorset.
It’s not unusual for anglers to be boastful but the mystery fisherman behind these photos appears to be taunting fellow members of the Christchurch Angling Club with his prowess.
Since March last year, 19 pictures of impressive fish have appeared in the retreat at Upper Winkton. The haul includes a 16lb 5oz barbel, 3lb roaches and a 7lb chub.
Each of the club’s 900 members has a key to the 100-year-old lodge but no one has admitted responsibility for the incredible haul captured in pictures taken on a mobile phone. The log book in the lodge has not been filled in; the mystery angler instead pins up an A4 photograph of each catch with the details of species and weight listed alongside.
The culprit is presumed to be a man, like more than nine in ten of the club’s members. “You could say this guy is a fishing genius,” Steve Jenner, the club’s secretary, said. “You might catch one specimen fish in a season but to catch 19 of that size and of three different species is unheard of. He is obviously experienced and has been around a while. His rod and reel are in some of the photographs and they aren’t exactly state-of-the-art. You wouldn’t have bought them in any angling shop in the past ten years.”
Advertisement
Mr Jenner speculates that the photographer may want to remain anonymous to avoid other anglers trailing him to his best spots.
The lodge sits beside a one-and-a-half mile stretch of the Avon which can be fished by members and those with day tickets. Some members are now attributing near-mystical powers to the unknown angler.
Andy Walker, the club’s spokesman, is convinced that the culprit is a veteran using skills honed by years of experience. He said: “A lot of anglers use very sophisticated tackle to turn fishing almost into a science and there is no sign of that in these photos.
“My hunch is he’s a traditional fisherman who uses techniques and baits that have worked for decades. He definitely has a very high level of skill as a big river roach is the hardest of all fish to catch and a 2lb one is the stuff of dreams. To catch so many, including 3lb specimens, is simply phenomenal.”
Not every member is convinced that the angler is not spinning them a line, however. Marek Weiczerak, 68, said: “Those pictures don’t have a specific date on them and I’d like to know more about the methods he used. I’ve been fishing down here for 12 years and I’ve never caught anything like that. It’s easier to catch a hen’s tooth down there than some of those fish. I know every angler exaggerates and this could be no different. I’d love to believe it, but I just need to see it in the flesh.”