Ike’s well-packed backpack allows him to transport everything he needs for a day of street fishing.

As with any type of fishing, having the right gear makes all the difference in urban fishing—or as I like to call it, “street fishing.” You may have to use public transportation or walk long distances to fishing spots. You might hop on a bike or into somebody else’s boat for a couple hours. At the end of the day, when you’re tired and on your way back to home or hotel, you had better be able to again walk long distances without feeling like you now hate your fishing equipment.

Because you often fish for a variety of species during the same outing, gathering and packing gear for street fishing can be a challenge. But, you can become a wizard of street fishing versatility if you steal my hard-won secrets from a lifetime of fishing cities all over the world.

Foundation: street-fishing backpack

A backpack is the best solution I’ve found for carrying tackle and other personal items for street fishing. I’ve been at this my whole life and know what I want, so I feel fortunate to have been asked by Flambeau to design a street-fishing backpack. Just look for their Ike Series backpack and you’ll have the same one I use.

Here’s what I pack in it:

• four hard boxes in the middle section for lures;
• in the two side pouches are my soft plastics;
• in the top I carry leader material, tools and a ziplock bag containing super glue and markers;
• up to two extra reels are place in old socks and go wherever they best fit.

My tools are made by Gerber and include pliers, scissors, and hook file. Those tools have gotten me through every situation you can imagine. I also carry some spare rod tips and adhesive in case I have an emergency on the water.

I use a waterproof Otterbox pouch for my phone. I try to think of everything I might need, but keep it streamlined so I’m not carrying a huge, heavy bag.

Boats in the street?

So much street fishing finds you walking up to the shoreline and casting from the bank. But sometimes, in order to cover more water, you may want to use some sort of watercraft.

I have fished in everything from a rubber raft to a 38-foot sport fishing boat in Miami. I like that because it shows you how dynamic city fishing is. You can do it all, depending on the scenario and what you have available. These days, a kayak would be at the top of my list. Small kayaks can be launched anywhere because they’re so light, and you can throw them on top of your car to get them to the water.

These small crafts preserve one of the beauties of urban fishing: that in-your-face, up-close-to-the-fish feeling. And, they put you on fish that are holding beyond what you can reach with a long cast from shore.

Rods and reels

By bringing three-piece rods that fish like one-piece rods, you can hop on the city bus with two high-quality rod-and-reel setups that can be customized into four distinct rod options. Modern materials and methods allow us to craft rods with a set butt section and mid section, then swap out tip sections to match the weight of line and bait we’re using. A three-piece rod packs down nice and compact, then goes together to form a quality 7-foot stick that lets you handle whatever species and situation you encounter.

My goal is to take along rods and reels with high performance and versatility even when I’m out and about in a city. I’ve fished with a new and innovative system all over the world, for a huge variety of species, and it’s amazing. I use a custom travel case with a rod tube big enough to leave the reels on the butt sections. So I get to a spot, open the tube, and I’m fishing in a few minutes.

(Editor’s note: Ike is putting finishing touches on a series of three-piece travel rods and matching reels, which will launch at ICAST Show in July. The series, made by Abu Garcia, will be available in fall of 2019, and we’ll keep you posted on details.)

No matter how much you travel, including getting on a plane, you have what you need and it’s a matched system. You don’t have to check rods, because the whole thing fits in an overhead bin. You can take it on a train, taxi, toss it in the back seat of a car, and easily carry it from spot to spot. The goal is to have what you need without having to bring a bunch of rods.

I bring a number of reels (usually four) spooled with different diameter line, to match the rod tip sections I have with me. Extra reels go in a sock to protect them and into the backpack.

Hopefully this helps you gather street-fishing gear that works for you, where you live and travel to. A lot of people don’t see it, but there is great fishing right under your nose, no matter where you go.

Are you looking for a new place to fish? You’ll find lots of helpful information in the March issue of MidWest Outdoors, available now at the newsstand or by subscribing on our website.