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Fly fishing near Boone, North Carolina
216 waters with a page on this site lie within 30 miles of Boone, North Carolina — South Fork New River, North Toe River and Linville River among them. May, June and July carry the most recorded hatches, 21 insects in May, 25 insects in June and 22 insects in July. In range: 8 blocks of public land with a page of their own and 8 fly shops. Everything below is measured or published — no ranking on this page is ours.
The water
| Water | Distance | Miles | July mean |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Fork New River | 11.1 mi | 83.9 | — |
| North Toe River | 23.9 mi | 63.2 | — |
| Linville River | 23.0 mi | 44.9 | — |
| Johns River | 18.8 mi | 41.2 | — |
| North Fork New River | 2.8 mi | 31.9 | — |
| Elk River | 7.6 mi | 29.1 | — |
| Yadkin River | 11.8 mi | 28.1 | 73.0 |
| Watauga River | 7.1 mi | 26.8 | — |
| Wilson Creek | 12.1 mi | 24.8 | — |
| North Fork Catawba River | 29.3 mi | 23.1 | — |
| Elk Creek | 12.8 mi | 22.4 | — |
| Big Laurel Creek | 29.4 mi | 17.3 | — |
| Upper Creek | 26.6 mi | 16.9 | — |
| Stony Fork | 14.5 mi | 16.6 | — |
| South Prong Lewis Fork | 15.3 mi | 16.6 | — |
| Reddies River | 19.1 mi | 16.2 | — |
| Mulberry Creek | 15.4 mi | 15.9 | — |
| Buffalo Creek | 11.8 mi | 15.2 | — |
| Cranberry Creek | 15.0 mi | 14.8 | — |
| Cove Creek | 3.8 mi | 13.7 | — |
| West Prong Roaring River | 19.0 mi | 13.5 | — |
| Irish Creek | 29.2 mi | 13.5 | — |
| Roses Creek | 28.9 mi | 13.3 | — |
| Steels Creek | 26.6 mi | 11.9 | — |
| Whiteoak Creek | 27.9 mi | 11.7 | — |
| North Fork Reddies River | 15.4 mi | 11.6 | — |
| Mill Creek | 26.5 mi | 11.4 | — |
| Prathers Creek | 16.0 mi | 11.1 | — |
| Peak Creek | 14.7 mi | 10.4 | — |
| Meat Camp Creek | 4.6 mi | 10.1 | — |
| Lost Cove Creek | 14.4 mi | 9.9 | — |
| Gragg Prong | 13.1 mi | 9.5 | — |
| Buffalo Creek | 7.0 mi | 9.4 | — |
| Middle Prong Roaring River | 19.7 mi | 9.3 | — |
| Three Top Creek | 4.8 mi | 9.2 | — |
| Harper Creek | 16.4 mi | 9.1 | — |
| Howard Creek | 5.8 mi | 9.0 | — |
| Darnell Creek | 14.5 mi | 8.8 | — |
| Beaver Creek | 10.3 mi | 8.6 | — |
| Middle Fork South Fork New River | 8.9 mi | 8.5 | — |
| Beech Creek | 6.9 mi | 7.8 | — |
| Joes Creek | 11.8 mi | 7.8 | — |
| Middle Fork Reddies River | 14.6 mi | 7.8 | — |
| Mill Creek | 5.6 mi | 7.7 | — |
| Roan Creek | 12.7 mi | 7.6 | — |
| South Fork Reddies River | 14.9 mi | 7.4 | — |
| Old Fields Creek | 8.2 mi | 6.9 | — |
| Long Hope Creek | 3.9 mi | 6.8 | — |
| Meadow Fork | 17.0 mi | 6.7 | — |
| Fall Creek | 12.2 mi | 6.5 | — |
| Anthony Creek | 12.0 mi | 6.4 | — |
| Basin Creek | 18.4 mi | 6.4 | — |
| North Harper Creek | 15.3 mi | 6.2 | — |
| Flat Branch | 27.6 mi | 6.2 | — |
| Beaverdam Creek | 5.6 mi | 6.1 | — |
| Laurel Creek | 6.8 mi | 5.9 | — |
| Dutch Creek | 7.8 mi | 5.8 | — |
| Winkler Creek | 8.5 mi | 5.8 | — |
| Simpson Creek | 28.6 mi | 5.8 | — |
| Thunderhole Creek | 11.2 mi | 5.7 | — |
| Rockhouse Creek | 13.3 mi | 5.6 | — |
| Parks Creek | 27.8 mi | 5.3 | — |
| Roaring Creek | 24.8 mi | 5.2 | — |
| Plumtree Creek | 26.1 mi | 5.2 | — |
| Little Fork Creek | 13.9 mi | 5.1 | — |
| Buckeye Creek | 7.7 mi | 5.0 | — |
| Harris Creek | 19.2 mi | 5.0 | — |
| Cranberry Creek | 10.8 mi | 4.8 | — |
| Mill Timber Creek | 13.6 mi | 4.6 | — |
| Threemile Creek | 27.6 mi | 4.6 | — |
| Piney Fork | 16.2 mi | 4.4 | — |
| Norris Fork | 5.2 mi | 4.3 | — |
| Franklin Branch | 18.0 mi | 4.3 | — |
| Rockhouse Creek | 11.7 mi | 4.2 | — |
| Squirrel Creek | 25.6 mi | 4.2 | — |
| Nathans Creek | 12.4 mi | 4.1 | — |
| Little Horse Creek | 12.2 mi | 4.0 | — |
| Cook Branch | 17.8 mi | 4.0 | — |
| Henson Creek | 26.9 mi | 4.0 | — |
| Kentucky Creek | 12.8 mi | 3.8 | — |
| Bill White Creek | 25.7 mi | 3.8 | — |
| Roten Creek | 13.0 mi | 3.7 | — |
| Craig Creek | 17.1 mi | 3.7 | — |
| Little Fork | 27.5 mi | 3.7 | — |
| Cold Water Creek | 14.7 mi | 3.6 | — |
| Pyatt Creek | 28.1 mi | 3.6 | — |
| Rush Branch | 13.8 mi | 3.5 | — |
| Carroll Creek | 27.6 mi | 3.5 | — |
| Gingercake Creek | 28.2 mi | 3.5 | — |
| Stack Rock Creek | 12.1 mi | 3.4 | — |
| Laurel Creek | 12.2 mi | 3.4 | — |
| Boone Fork | 15.4 mi | 3.4 | — |
| Larkins Estes Mill Creek | 16.0 mi | 3.3 | — |
| Big Branch | 4.4 mi | 3.2 | — |
| Joshua Creek | 16.1 mi | 3.2 | — |
| Shawneehaw Creek | 9.1 mi | 3.1 | — |
| Bucks Timber Creek | 12.3 mi | 3.1 | — |
| Horse Creek | 12.5 mi | 3.1 | — |
| Clark Branch | 14.4 mi | 3.1 | — |
| Pearcey Creek | 28.3 mi | 3.1 | — |
| Dixon Creek | 11.4 mi | 3.0 | — |
| Amos Creek | 12.7 mi | 3.0 | — |
| Laurel Branch | 29.4 mi | 3.0 | — |
| New Years Creek | 11.0 mi | 2.9 | — |
| Webb Creek | 13.4 mi | 2.9 | — |
| Kirby Creek | 13.8 mi | 2.9 | — |
| Frankum Creek | 13.9 mi | 2.9 | — |
| Mills Creek | 12.9 mi | 2.8 | — |
| Ben Bolen Creek | 5.2 mi | 2.7 | — |
| Jones Branch | 10.0 mi | 2.7 | — |
| China Creek | 10.6 mi | 2.7 | — |
| Timbered Branch | 18.0 mi | 2.7 | — |
| Andrews Creek | 12.3 mi | 2.6 | — |
| Left Fork Mulberry Creek | 12.3 mi | 2.6 | — |
| Walnut Bottom Creek | 13.7 mi | 2.6 | — |
| Thorps Creek | 14.8 mi | 2.6 | — |
| Sally Creek | 17.0 mi | 2.6 | — |
| House Branch | 24.4 mi | 2.6 | — |
| Stamey Branch | 26.6 mi | 2.6 | — |
| Pond Branch | 30.0 mi | 2.6 | — |
| Little Wilson Creek | 11.8 mi | 2.5 | — |
| Eliza Estes Mill Creek | 16.5 mi | 2.5 | — |
| Loving Branch | 17.0 mi | 2.5 | — |
| Powdermill Creek | 26.6 mi | 2.5 | — |
| Jones Creek | 28.7 mi | 2.5 | — |
| Pond Creek | 8.0 mi | 2.4 | — |
| Orchard Branch | 13.5 mi | 2.4 | — |
| Chestnut Cove Branch | 25.7 mi | 2.4 | — |
| Griffith Branch | 26.7 mi | 2.4 | — |
| Phillips Creek | 11.6 mi | 2.3 | — |
| Tough Hill Branch | 12.0 mi | 2.3 | — |
| Reids Creek | 17.1 mi | 2.3 | — |
| Fall Creek | 9.7 mi | 2.2 | — |
| Spencer Branch | 17.3 mi | 2.2 | — |
| Cary Flat Branch | 12.6 mi | 2.1 | — |
| Gilbert Branch | 12.7 mi | 2.1 | — |
| Cow Camp Creek | 13.1 mi | 2.1 | — |
| Estes Mill Creek | 15.2 mi | 2.1 | — |
| Racket Creek | 11.7 mi | 2.0 | — |
| Raider Camp Creek | 16.4 mi | 2.0 | — |
| Elijah Estes Mill Creek | 16.7 mi | 2.0 | — |
| Anderson Creek | 16.9 mi | 2.0 | — |
| Ripshin Branch | 27.1 mi | 2.0 | — |
| Harris Creek | 29.5 mi | 2.0 | — |
| Mill Creek | 10.4 mi | 1.9 | — |
| White Spring Branch | 11.3 mi | 1.9 | — |
| Roaring Creek | 14.7 mi | 1.9 | — |
| Guys Creek | 18.7 mi | 1.9 | — |
| Carroll Mill Creek | 18.8 mi | 1.9 | — |
| Doublehead Creek | 26.6 mi | 1.9 | — |
| Bull Branch | 27.8 mi | 1.9 | — |
| Horsepen Creek | 17.7 mi | 1.8 | — |
| Crawley Branch | 17.8 mi | 1.8 | — |
| Sassafras Creek | 13.7 mi | 1.7 | — |
| Strutton Creek | 15.6 mi | 1.7 | — |
| Buckwheat Branch | 26.7 mi | 1.7 | — |
| Holley Branch | 29.6 mi | 1.7 | — |
| Ballew Creek | 11.6 mi | 1.6 | — |
| Honey Branch | 12.2 mi | 1.6 | — |
| Friddle Creek | 13.6 mi | 1.6 | — |
| Cline Creek | 15.2 mi | 1.6 | — |
| Brown Branch | 16.1 mi | 1.6 | — |
| Phillips Branch | 16.6 mi | 1.6 | — |
| Mitchell Branch | 17.2 mi | 1.6 | — |
| Canoe Branch | 26.9 mi | 1.6 | — |
| Gulf Branch | 27.7 mi | 1.6 | — |
| Rich Cove Branch | 29.0 mi | 1.6 | — |
| Stein Branch | 13.1 mi | 1.5 | — |
| Cooper Branch | 13.7 mi | 1.5 | — |
| Justice Creek | 27.5 mi | 1.5 | — |
| Anthony Bolick Branch | 12.5 mi | 1.4 | — |
| Rightfork Mulberry Creek | 12.8 mi | 1.4 | — |
| Lowder Mill Branch | 12.9 mi | 1.4 | — |
| Crooked Branch | 13.4 mi | 1.4 | — |
| Cane Branch | 14.0 mi | 1.4 | — |
| Georges Creek | 14.1 mi | 1.4 | — |
| Little Lost Cove Creek | 14.6 mi | 1.4 | — |
| Jenny Branch | 14.7 mi | 1.4 | — |
| Hull Branch | 16.0 mi | 1.4 | — |
| Ling Branch | 12.9 mi | 1.3 | — |
| Major Branch | 13.0 mi | 1.3 | — |
| Big Branch | 13.0 mi | 1.2 | — |
| Crusher Branch | 14.1 mi | 1.2 | — |
| Laurel Fork | 15.1 mi | 1.2 | — |
| Pinchgut Creek | 15.2 mi | 1.2 | — |
| McLean Branch | 15.5 mi | 1.2 | — |
| Burnthouse Branch | 17.0 mi | 1.2 | — |
| Lost Branch | 8.0 mi | 1.1 | — |
| Payne Branch | 9.6 mi | 1.1 | — |
| Woodruff Branch | 13.3 mi | 1.1 | — |
| Turkey Branch | 13.4 mi | 1.1 | — |
| Laurel Mountain Branch | 13.8 mi | 1.1 | — |
| Simmons Branch | 16.2 mi | 1.1 | — |
| Stacey Creek | 25.9 mi | 1.1 | — |
| Linn Cove Branch | 12.0 mi | 1.0 | — |
| Flat Land Branch | 13.1 mi | 1.0 | — |
| Shop Branch | 14.2 mi | 1.0 | — |
| Burnfield Branch | 14.8 mi | 1.0 | — |
| Poplar Spring Branch | 14.0 mi | 0.9 | — |
| Little Laurel Branch | 30.0 mi | 0.9 | — |
| Little Laurel Creek | 13.6 mi | 0.8 | — |
| Bills Branch | 13.4 mi | 0.7 | — |
| Wildcat Branch | 12.5 mi | 0.6 | — |
| Hopewell Branch | 16.5 mi | 0.6 | — |
| Cow Branch | 26.2 mi | 0.6 | — |
| South Fork New Delayed Harvest — named stretch | 7.2 mi | — | — |
| Watauga Delayed Harvest — named stretch | 7.8 mi | — | — |
| Laurel Creek Catch-and-Release — named stretch | 9.2 mi | — | — |
| Pond Creek Catch-and-Release — named stretch | 11.1 mi | — | — |
| Elk River Catch-and-Release — named stretch | 12.0 mi | — | — |
| Elk Creek Delayed Harvest — named stretch | 12.2 mi | — | — |
| Wilson Creek Catch-and-Release — named stretch | 12.2 mi | — | — |
| Lost Cove Catch-and-Release — named stretch | 16.3 mi | — | — |
| Wilson Creek Delayed Harvest — named stretch | 16.7 mi | — | — |
| Reddies River Delayed Harvest — named stretch | 29.3 mi | — | — |
| Whitetop Laurel Special Regulation Water — named stretch — VA | 29.8 mi | — | — |
Straight-line distance from the middle of town to the middle of the water. The roads are not mapped here, so this page does not give you a drive time it did not measure.
A 3-day plan
South Fork New River
No site in the state's access file falls within twelve miles of this water's centre, so the way in is public ground and road crossings.
North Toe River
No site in the state's access file falls within twelve miles of this water's centre, so the way in is public ground and road crossings.
Linville River
No site in the state's access file falls within twelve miles of this water's centre, so the way in is public ground and road crossings.
Assembled, not written: the days are the largest waters in range, longest first, and each one carries the nearest site in North Carolina's own access file — measured from the middle of the water, so it is a place to start looking rather than a landing on that river. Fish them in whatever order the weather gives you.
Hatches to hit
The months with the most recorded hatches in the North Carolina mountains: May (21), June (25), July (22).
| Insect | Months | Hook |
|---|---|---|
| Little Black Stonefly | January–April | #16–18 |
| Little Brown Stonefly | February–April | #12–16 |
| Blue-Winged Olive | March–May and September–November | #16–22 |
| Quill Gordon | March–April | #12–14 |
| Blackfly | April–June | #18–22 |
| Blue Quill | April–May | #16–18 |
| Cranefly | April–June and September–October | #6–10 |
| Grannom | April–May | #14–16 |
| Green Rock Worm / Green Weenie | April–June and September–October | #10–14 |
| Hendrickson | April–May | #12–14 |
| Little Black Caddis | April–May | #16–20 |
| Alderfly | May–June | #10–14 |
| Caterpillar | May–September | #8–14 |
| Crayfish | May–October | #4–8 |
Recorded from the North Carolina mountains, earliest first. The year-round records sit at the bottom because they are true and they are not news.
Public land in range
- Elk Knob Game Land — 7.2 mi
- Bear Paw State Natural Area — 8.6 mi
- Backbone Ridge State Forest — 8.8 mi
- Elk Knob State Park — 10.0 mi
- Grandfather Mountain State Park — 10.2 mi
- Beech Creek State Natural Area — 10.7 mi
- Buffalo Cove Game Land — 13.3 mi
- Three Top Mountain Game Land — 15.1 mi
Blocks of ground with a page of their own, nearest first. Ownership from PAD-US as North Carolina publishes it.
Camping and lodging
We have campground records for Michigan and for no other state, so there is nothing to list here rather than a list somebody guessed. The public land above is where the dispersed camping is, where the state allows it.
Fly shops
- Appalachian Outfitters — 1.1 mi, Boone
- Waypoint Outfitters — 1.4 mi, Boone
- Fly Shop — 1.5 mi
- The Speckled Trout Outfitters — 5.6 mi, Blowing Rock
- Footsloggers Outdoor & Travel Outfitters — 5.7 mi
- Deep South Co Outfitters — 17.9 mi, Elk Park
- New River Outfitters — 25.8 mi, Crumpler
- Cole's Tackle Box — 27.2 mi
From OpenStreetMap and a curated list, across all five states on this site. Call before you drive — a shop in a file is not a shop that is open.
Before you go
- North Carolina regulations
- North Carolina fishing report
- South Fork New River
- North Toe River
- Linville River
- Johns River
- North Fork New River
- Elk River