Is it ok to let your kids fish with nets in the canal?

[CarofromWton]

As it was a lovely day here my 2 DDs and their friends asked if I would take them to the local canal by our house (rural area) with small fishing nets so they could play 'fishing'. They didn't actually catch anything but enjoyed messing about by the canalside for an hour. However, when we came home, my DH was horrified that I'd let them do this as he had "seen on the internet the risks of playing by dirty canal water, and that it can lead to infections which in turn can lead to blindness and other serious health risks".

At the time I said "OMG just let the kids live a little", but all evening I've been worrying about it.

Have I put the kids at risk? What do you think? Haven't children done this kind of thing for centuries?

of course it's ok!

Thanks - paranoia lessening slightly!

of course its fine.

no canel here, but dd's had a greattime playing in the river and trying to catch fish.

He's talking about weils disease, but I have never ever known a child to catch it and there are a lot of pools and rivers round here/

espeically if they're old enough to not be licking their hands etc etc and you make sure they wash hands once they get home.

Yes they did wash their hands as soon as we got back - three of the girls were 9, my little one is 4.

So, is there a safe child-friendly place on a riverbank in Abingdon Ox?