Who was the first angler?

The first of them was Sir Hyde Parker. He fished in various rivers in Sweden in 1828, and in the following years he visited several salmon rivers in Norway." Skaun takes his point of departure from Sir Henry Pottinger's book "Flood, Fell and Forest", which writes here that "The Norwegians have every reason to erect a statue of Sir Hyde Parker." And he is right. It was something for Norwegian anglers to take the lead in. Sir Hyde was the one who brought sport fishing to our country, many wonderful moments filled with healthy sports joy we originally have to thank him for,” writes Skaun in his book. Yes, yes editor Skaun was probably glad that this did not become a reality, because in a section in the book “Hunting and Fishing in Norway” (1961) he writes that Sir Hyde had his first fishing trip to Norway in 1836! In this book, however, Skaun introduces Thoning Owesen as the first fly fisherman in Norway. According to Skaun, Thoning Owesen first visited Leren by the Nidelva in 1820. “Is it, when one knows the passion of sport fishermen, too bold to assume that he then had his fishing rod with him?” asks Skaun, - and continues: "How is everything - if he didn't have the fishing rod with him in 1820, then it was pretty sure to be with him on the next visit in 1822". - And Skaun concludes: "With Thoning Owesen and the years 1820 or 1822, the history of sport fishing in Norway begins". Skaun then mentions several Englishmen who came after Thoning Owesen: Sir Humphrey Davy, who in his book "Salmonia or Days of Fishing" (1828), says that he has fished, among other things, in the Glomma and various rivers in Southern Norway, but he does not give any years. But Skaun writes that he has succeeded in establishing that it was all in 1824 - "that is, right at the heels of Thoning Owesen".

Skaun also mentions other Englishmen and also includes Hutchinson. He writes that Hutchinson came to Norway in 1827 and established himself as a lumber merchant in Drammen. Skaun also writes about the book Hutchinson published in 1839 and adds: “While the other anglers from the other side of the North Sea primarily practiced their sport here for their own pleasure, – Robert Dalton Hutchinson is the first who thought of teaching the sport to his new countrymen.