Respect private property. State laws regarding what constitutes public and private waterways are not always clear. If a property owner objects to your presence, leave. Many streams run through golf courses, but a hatch of Titleists can be very painful. Dogs may not have fences between their yards and waterways, and snakes thrive near bodies of water, even in the middle of cities.
Many urban waterways are small, so plan accordingly.
Seven to eight foot rods from 2-wt. Nymphs, small bass bugs and streamers work well in most locations. Wading boots with felt soles are essential, since urban stream beds tend to be algae covered. Float tubes can be used in some of the larger pools as well as in many city ponds and lakes. Urban waters often hold good populations of bluegills, largemouth bass and other sunfish in addition to catfish and carp.