Alex bones doesn't get enough coverage to end up a "hero" really, i don't think.
i would have said more likely heroes from this decade would end up being Scotthorne, Raison, whichever ringer it is that just started up guru, for the match side of things.
Maybe Bowler and welchy for the specimen side of things.
Not that i'm saying you don't need talent to become a hero, but i think coverage is the key factor in becoming someones hero really. Mind you, having started fishing properly as an adult, i've never had an angling hero, simply anglers whose opinion i consider over others. for example, bob roberts, i quite like his outlook on things, and would consider trying anything he recommends. but then, compared to most of the characters, he's significantly more local to me, and seems to fish accessible places, most of the time.