Important steps fisheries and tackle shops have taken to keep customers safe

Bosses at Lindholme Lakes Country Park, near Doncaster, have introduced a range of new safety precautions for returning anglers.

The venue’s co-owner, Aaron Grantham, says:

“We’ve included two-metre distancing markers on the floor both inside and outside our on-site tackle shop, which will also now feature a one-way system like those seen in supermarkets.

“Hands-free sanitizer dispensers are located at the front of the shop, and we’ve installed protective plastic screens at the till areas, which now have more contactless payment machines.

“We will be encouraging anglers to pre-book their fishing and make any bait or tackle orders for the session beforehand. To begin with it will be pleasure fishing only, and so there must be a free peg between each angler.

“I made a video of all the changes and uploaded it to Facebook, and it received around 12,000 hits in just two days.” adds Aaron.

Lindholme Lakes 2m distancing floor markers

Lindholme have also installed protective screens

Meanwhile, a number of tackle shop owners have come up with proactive ways of kickstarting trade again, while still maintaining social distancing between staff and customers.

One of these, Kent’s Medway Tackle, has incorporated a delivery service within an eight-mile radius of the shop, which is free if customers spend over £20.

Owner Richard Taylor says:

“The point of the delivery service is to help keep the business rolling, but it’s mostly for the safety of our customers. People just need to give us a call, place an order, and every Wednesday or Saturday I’ll jump in the car to deliver it to their doorstep.”