There must be a few Yorkshire people on this wesite. If so, let me put it to you who was the greatest ever all-round angler to live in Yorkshire?

Many names come to mind, but one stands out.

JHR (Jim) Bazley of Leeds.

Not only was this man a great match angler having won the national championships twice, he was a brilliant fly fisherman, hunter of all manner of specimen fish and a sea angler of some ability too.

Strangley enough he was not born in Yorkshire - he origionally hailed from Gloucestershire.

But what do you think?

Personally I'd have to say Stuart Crofts. One of the friendliest and approachable people I've ever met- A real gentleman and true philosophiser. Always smiling- he is like the perpetual boy (Peter Pan) especially with a fly rod in his hand. He will help anybody at any time- his knowledge of entomology and the way he reads water is second to none.

Jonathan.

Himalayan Fly Fishing in Paradise on Earth

For me to be a true Yorkshireman you should be born in the county.. How about Arthur Oglesby? He was a good coarse angler in his younger years and was a hell of a shot...

Ron - I thought you were?




What about your man's apprentice: R.V.Righyni?

Despite the surname, of a French army officer father, who died of wounds sustained in the 1912-18 war. Reg was born in Bradford 27 June 1912 and was Yorkshire through and through. A respected broker on the Bradford Wool Exchange.

His mentor 'Baz' Bazley only really famous as a match angler, albeit a good one.

Righyni has nomination as the more accomplished all-rounder. A great salmon, trout and grayling angler.
Despite this thread having been placed in 'General Fly Fishing' and in a Fly Fishing Forum - I don't hesitate to mention his long-trotting Grayling Float still sold to this day by The Grayling Society.

Billy Casper... Get's my vote

I put the emphasis on the "all-round" angler here, that's why Bazley get's my nod. And notice that I said "to live in Yorkshire".

Bazley was an all rounder of the highest grade. He also caught some huge pike and roach in Hornsea Mere. And yes you are right, Reg Ryghini was tutored by Baz.

But let's list a few other great Yorkshire all rounders and see which of you knew any:

Arthur Oglesby
TK (Tim) Wilson
Ernest Merrett
Ray Forsberg
Roy Shaw
Charles Derrick
Tag Barnes
Eric Allen
Oliver Edwards - perhaps not an all rounder

Ok live in Yorksire it is.... Well I met Eric Horsfall Turner once and met Jack Martin a time or two. Cant say that I knew any of them...

Your post says live but the title says: The greatest ever angling Yorkshireman

Ron, I'm perplexed! A Yorkshireman from Gloucestershire?

Jesus was born in a stable, does that make him a horse?

__________________
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How poor a thing, sometimes I find,
Will captivate a greedy mind - Isaac Walton.

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As in 'coarse angling' you mean?



Thank you for that.

How about Dennis Pye who caught more and bigger pike in Hornsea. I've some great photos of him (I'll post them tomorrow). His bream and roach captures were also worthy of mention.

Another missing from the list is Lorenzo Mitchell-Hedges who pioneered tunny fishing in the North Sea and captured the 851 lb World record tunny off Whitby. I'm not sure if he caught many roach.




I'm sure I'll find other worthy candidates when I give the matter some thought.
I can't say I've ever heard of Ernest Merrett, Ray Forsberg or Charles Derrick.
I'll check my Colin Willock (oops there I go again ) books.

Sorry but you are confusing Hornsea Mere - in the East Riding of Yorkshire with Horsey Mere which is in Norfolk

Denis Pye who I met once in Sheffield, was a Norwich man who ran a very successful fish and chip shop.

My definition on an all-round angler is one who has the skills and has been successful at all kinds of angling, be it coarse fishing, game fishing or even sea fishing.

Two other names are Capt Tommy Edwards and Jack Martin. Jack Martin was one of the best fly casters and instructors in his day. I was introduced to him by Tag Barnes, Jack gave me a couple of tips regarding my own casting. (Hell, that's a long time ago.)

Ernest Merrett was another Leeds man who wrote a great deal in such magazines as Trout and Salmon, Fishing, Angling and Angling Telegraph. He was a highly skilled all rounder who was particularly good at lure fishing for pike.

Ray Forsberg came from Hull and Charles Derrick, also from Hull, fished and accompanied Roy Shaw a great deal. Roy Shaw was not only a skilled all-rounder, he was an extremely talented wild life and angling photographer who did a great deal of work for Angling Times and Trout & Salmon.