North America is undergoing an urban fishing revival. In the United States, the Clean Water Act of 1972 kicked off a nationwide clean-up of city waters created many challenging urban fisheries from New York to Seattle. In Canada, some of the finest fishing can be found in the largest urban centers: Vancouver and Toronto. Here are 11 great urban fishing spots that are surprisingly close to the heart of many cities.

Vancouver

Ponds and lakes such as Lafarge Lake, Rice Lake, and Como Lake in municipal or regional district parks, offer great shore or pier fishing for rainbow trout in the Lower mainland. At the Stanley Park Seawall - possibly the most iconic and definitely one of the most visited scenic locations in Vancouver -- angling enthusiasts can cast into Burrard Inlet or English Bay. You may not catch a Guinness Book record, but you can't beat the fun and enjoyment of the Seawall.

Calgary

One of Calgary's urbanest fishing spots is Fish Creek Provincial Park. The park is a 19 kilometer stretch from NE to the West. Fish Creek runs into Bow River, and fishing in such a beautiful place filled with a variety of grasslands and wetlands, in a booming forest, is a great pleasure. Fish Creek is a popular place for families to go hiking, fishing, and even cycling.

Toronto

Sometimes overlooked for its urban fishing is Canada’s largest metropolitan area, Toronto. The urban fishing hot spots include ponds, lakes and two popular rivers such as Humber River and Credit. The rivers are usually stocked brown or rainbow trout, chinook, coho or even some Atlantic salmon and can be caught along the riverbank or out in a boat. In several public ponds, rivers, marshes and lakes there is great fishing for some warm-water species - carp, sunfish suckers, perch, catfish, black crappie and bass, which make it fun for kids as well.

Seattle

Puget Sound has an abundance of sea-run cutthroat trout, but don’t dismiss the freshwater opportunities. On Lake Washington you can fish for smallmouth and largemouth bass, as well as perch and trout. Seattle is one of the most fished cities due to the sheer number of rivers, lakes and streams flowing around it.

Los Angeles

In Los Angeles, you can fish in many places right in the city, but there is something special about Macarthur Park. It is a booming location, great for people watching and fishing from the shore. In the summer, there are tons of events, concerts and family entertainment, which are all totally free. The fishing spot in MacArthur Park is supported by natural springs, but has had some man-made elements to the bottom.

Austin

One of the best places for urban fishing in Austin is Town Lake, due to it being quite close to the city. There are a couple more great spots to fish in the vicinity including Lake Travis, and Lake Austin. You don't even need a boat! Shore fishing is incredibly convenient at most of the urban fishing spots in Austin.

New Orleans

New Orleans urban fishing scene has been around for centuries, due to its awesome inshore saltwater fishing. Myrtle Grove is a great spot to find Speckled Trout and Redfish.

Chicago

The Windy City has an incredible amount of smallmouth bass fishing spots in Lake Michigan, off of Lakeshore Drive. Events such as BassMasters Classic (the biggest bass tournament in the world) is held there. You can charter a boat, or you can fish right off the docks and breakwater here.

Detroit

Detroit has a healthy population of smallmouth and largemouth bass, as well as muskies, and walleye. There is also word of a reef in front of the Renaissance Center that is one amazing urban fishing spot in Detroit.

Boston

No, you won't find any tea-flavored fish in here, but the "Bubble" is the perfect hotspot for striped-bass. The Tea Party took place in Port Channel, and is one of the preferred fishing spots in Boston harbour. There's even a ton of micro-islands which make for great relaxing fishing spots.

New York City

The Big Apple has some big urban fishing adventures. Offering some of the top inshore saltwater fishing in the entire USA. The waters in New York City are great for fishing whether you're in the East River or Lower Hudson and Jamaica Bay. You'll find schools of bluefish, weakfish, and striped bass. Prepare your I Heart NY t-shirts, because you will find yourself in love with the urban fishing scene here.

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