Is this the world’s most expensive fishing reel?

The most expensive fishing reel in the world will be offered for sale next month during an auction of the finest collection of antique tackle ever to grace the sport.

Lifelong collector Graham Turner is calling time on his passion after spending more than 35 years amassing an enviable assortment of priceless rods, reels, lures and other items.

At the vanguard of the long awaited sale is what the 75-year-old calls ‘The Holy Grail’ of reels – an Ustonson Original Multiplying Winch – a forerunner to the modern multipliers dating back to 1762, which carries an estimate of £25,000 to £35,000, although many are predicting that it could fetch considerably more.

Among the other prize lots sure to attract hefty bids from the hundreds of collectors descending upon the London salesroom from all over the world is a set of rods previously belonging to the 4th Earl Spencer (1798-1857) – the ancestor of the late Princess Diana.

Also on offer will be what is being billed as the ‘world’s finest display of British lures’, a cased collection of 48 artificial baits which was last sold in 1999 for £29,900, but which is expected to attract a far higher bid this time around.

Graham, who has 500 lots on offer at the sale, told Angling Times why he had decided to sell up.

“Most of the stuff is kept in banks these days, so I’m getting little benefit from it.

“The fun is in the collecting – once you reach your goal, the appeal begins to wear off. It’s like a football team winning the European Cup – once it’s been achieved, you have to start all over again, and I’m too old to do that,” said Graham.

“Plus, the wife has this idea that I’m going to go before her, so she doesn’t want to be left having to sort it all out!” he joked.

The sale, which will take place at Angling Auctions’ HQ in London on March 26, is expected to attract interest from all over the globe, and one of those attending will be prominent UK-based antique tackle expert, Chris Sandford.

“The sale is sure to be well attended because there is some interesting stuff on view. The case of 48 lures by the Wyers brothers in particular could really fly. I’m really looking forward to see how it all pans out,” said Chris.