Fishermen across Black Country and Staffordshire casting once again
Not only was Jacob Hayden back fishing in the sunshine after seven weeks of lockdown but within hours he'd got a catch.
The HGV driver reeled in a 22.5lb common carp at Himley Hall pools on the first day it reopened – the day after the Government lifted a ban on some recreational sports such as fishing.
Jacob, from Milking Bank, was so excited about fishing again he queued outside the gates at 6am.
"I've been fishing since I was five and before lockdown I'd normally go every week," the 25-year-old said.
"I caught a 22.5lb common carp – it was more luck than skill though.
"But you very rarely catch anything here.
"It was boring not being able to go fishing, so I was excited, but it was quite manic trying to get every thing ready."
Recreational activities such as tennis, angling and golf are now permitted but playgrounds, outdoor gyms and “ticketed outdoor leisure venues” – where there is a higher risk of close contact – remain off-limits under step one of the plans.
The reopening of such leisure facilities may only be “fully possible significantly later” depending on the reduction in infections, it added.
The document warned that if people break the rules and begin to mix in groups in parks, the infection rate could increase and trigger the need for further restrictions.
