I've given this much thought over the last few days, while painting rooms and demolishing old sheds
and its actually quite subjective depending on your aspect to the sport.
I agree with much of what Rob, Hamish and David have said.
My problem with coming up with nominees was, do books and articles denote a Legend or is it the things they do regarding catching fish. If the latter is the case most Legends are anonymous. If its their contribution to angling as a whole then their articles, books , etc have to be included in the criteria, as these are devisive issues which make their impact on the sport all the more important. However they need to be original and influential in their information as well as articulate.Also if we include media as parrt of the criteria then we have to consider TV all of a sudden John Wilson becomes a candidate.
The other important thing to think about is what they give to the sport, this, i have been thinking about is the "Hero" element, people like Peter (rabbit man) who give up their time to teach the kids and encourage the next generation are the Hero element, most of whom are anonymous outwith their own circles except for the likes of Mr Jardine and Mr Sandison to name the first two that spring to mind.
My British angling legend for impact to all aspects of the sport and the most influential angler of the "modern age" has to be Dick Walker.
Although if flyfishing were the only angle we were looking at then i would plump for GEM Skues , he went against convention and was proved right plus some of his views on stocking policies have turned out to be bang on many years after his demise.
The legend of the future either has to Charles Jardine for his work, articles and input to the modern era, or John Wilson for getting Angling "out there" with a smile and a laugh
A scottish legend is tough, WC stewart is the most publicised but he was a fishmonger who caught to sell, Bruce Sandison has to be a contender but i think a Legend unless a living legend (pretentious title
) has to be departed, so i would er toward Hugh Falkus (but was he a jock ???) i dont think he was, in which case he could join list a
otherwise it has to be James Wright
A future Scottish legend will have to be Bruce Sandison or Ally Gowans perhaps even Mr Liddle if he keeps writing and catching fish till he gets a bit on the old side
.
I guess i dont make anything any easier
Sandy