Jacob Worth reveals the most important things he’s discovered over the last six years of tackling the capital’s inner-city waters, so you can embark on your own urban adventure!
GO LIGHT AND COMPACT
To kick things off I thought I’d make a list of a few must-have items to have on your urban adventures. A builder’s trolley is a must. It’s the perfect alternative to a barrow, as it’s small enough to fit on to trains and buses, yet robust enough to take a heavy load.
Next is the Scope 4 Fold Bed, as there’s nothing better when it comes to compact and lightweight bedchairs. A top-quality, lightweight shelter is also something worth investing in.
It took me years to refine my set-up and find the perfect tool for every job, so don’t rush into it. Item by item, you’ll figure out what works best for you.
DO YOUR PREP
From planing the best time to start your session to figuring out bankside accessibility, a lot needs to be thought about before your first trip with the fishing gear.
I start by taking a trip to the venue just to have a good look around. This will give me a solid idea of how busy the place is, which can be a big factor when deciding where I’m going to set up.
When I say ‘busy’ I’m referring to members of the public. On almost any urban venue there will be lots of foot traffic, so you need to blend in as much as possible.
TRY SHORTER RODS
Most urban waterways have limited access and bank space, so your set-up should be as compact as possible. The last thing you want is a 12ft rod taking up half of the path, resulting in constant ear-ache from the public, or, worse still, a cyclist smashing through your rods. I use 10ft Scope rods which are retractable, so they fit perfectly on to a small rod pod.
On really busy park lakes or canals I would even go down to a 6ft rod.
HAVE PATIENCE
I don’t just mean patiently waiting for a bite! I mean having patience and understanding not everything will go exactly to plan. I’ve had children come and pick my rods up, members of the
