Undisputed master of the macho photo op: Vladmir Putin goes fishing...

Whether tranquilizing polar bears or harpooning whales the Russia president rarely drops his tough guy image

He is the undisputed master of the macho (if at times weird) photo op.

Whether tranquilizing polar bears, harpooning whales, riding horses bare chested or heading beneath the waves in a submarine, the Russia president rarely drops his tough guy image.

Of course it doesn't always go to plan. In keeping with his fearless image he was shown attaching a GPS-Argos satellite transmitter onto a sedated Siberian tiger - which later died because of over-sedation.

However, in his latest trip Mr Putin appeared to be enjoying himself on a short fishing trip to a nature reserve in Siberia. He caught a huge pike while on his holiday, which he was later pictured with.

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