Fishing in Surry County, North Carolina
Seat: Dobson. NCWRC District 7.
- 1lakes
- 7launches
- 8trout streams
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of Belews Lake: Kfasimpaur, Public domain
Surry County through an angler’s eyes
Dobson is the seat of Surry County, a District 7 county for NCWRC. Land in Surry County totals 533 square miles, water 4.
1 lake pages fall in the county, the largest being Tumbling Rock Reservoir. There are 7 launches mapped here: 7 inland, 0 coastal or joint. 8 county streams carry an NCWRC trout class. NCWRC requested 4,000 fish for 2 waters in the county. The 2026 trout calendar includes 7 waters here.
For the trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Where to fish in Surry County, plotted
NCWRC access areas, USACE, USFS, OpenStreetMap and NC DCM, checked October 2026.
Lakes in Surry County
- Tumbling Rock Reservoirreservoir, Community Fishing Program
Streams across Surry County
- Yadkin Riverriver, Hatchery Supported, 7 launches
- Fisher Riverriver, 2 launches
- Ararat Riverriver, Delayed Harvest and Hatchery Supported, 2 launches
- Fisher River (Cooper Creek)river, Hatchery Supported
- Little Fisher Riverriver, Hatchery Supported
- Lovills Creekcreek, Hatchery Supported
- Pauls Creekcreek, Hatchery Supported
- Mitchell Riverriver, Delayed Harvest
- Big Elkin Creekcreek, Hatchery Supported
Flow in Surry County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Yadkin River At Elkin, Nc | 613 cfs, 1.36 ft gage height | Nov 11 12:00 am |
| Ararat River At Ararat, Nc | 107 cfs, 0.92 ft gage height | Nov 10 11:15 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 11, 2026 12:32 am ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Launch sites across Surry County
Freshwater ramps of Surry County (7)
- 268 EastArarat River, paddle access, 9 trailer spaces
- Bray FordFisher River, paddle access, 8 trailer spaces
- Burch StationYadkin River, paddle access, 5 trailer spaces
- Crater ParkYadkin River, 1 lane, 10 trailer spaces, 1 dock
- Luck StoneArarat River, paddle access, 3 trailer spaces
- Old Highway 601Fisher River, paddle access, 9 trailer spaces
- Tharrington Park Access, boat ramp
NCWRC Boating Access Areas and Public Fishing Areas, USACE, USFS and OpenStreetMap slipways.
Stocking across Surry County
Where NCWRC stocks fish in Surry County
| Water | Species | Number |
|---|---|---|
| Tumbling Rock Reservoir | Channel Catfish | 3,000 |
| Elkin River (big Elkin Creek) | Channel Catfish | 1,000 |
Surry County trout calendar
| Water | Dates | First |
|---|---|---|
| Ararat River | 1 | 2026-04-21 |
| Ararat River | 2 | 2026-05-13 |
| Elkin River (Big Elkin Creek) | 1 | 2026-04-21 |
| Fisher River | 1 | 2026-04-22 |
| Little Fisher River | 1 | 2026-04-22 |
| Lovills Creek | 1 | 2026-04-21 |
| Mitchell River | 2 | 2026-05-05 |
| Pauls Creek | 1 | 2026-04-22 |
NCWRC 2026 warmwater list, live trout report and freshwater state records.
Inland limits in Surry County
| Species | Daily creel | Size | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth and smallmouth bass | 5 a day | 14 in minimum | No closed season |
| Crappie | no creel limit | no size limit | No closed season |
| Sunfish | no creel limit | no size limit | No closed season |
| Striped and Bodie bass | 4 a day | 20 in minimum | No closed season |
| White bass | 10 a day | no size limit | No closed season |
| Walleye | 8 a day | no size limit | No closed season |
| Rock and Roanoke bass | no creel limit | no size limit | No closed season |
| Blue, channel and flathead catfish | no creel limit | no size limit | No closed season |
| Trout (undesignated waters) | 7 a day | no size limit | No closed season |
NCWRC 2026-27 inland regulations; rows chosen by the county seat position against I-95 and I-77.
Tackle sellers in Surry County
Shops in Surry County
- Big Jim's Fish Pondbait and tackle shop, Dobson
- Handmade Tackle Incbait and tackle shop, Mount Airy
- Ricks Reloading Tacklebait and tackle shop, Ararat
Guides to hire in Surry County
- Willowbrook Lakefreshwater / lake guide, Elkin, (336) 526-3474
Just around Surry County
Towns of Surry County
- Mount Airypop. 10,676
- Elkinpop. 4,122
- Dobsonpop. 1,462
- Pilot Mountainpop. 1,440
Bordering counties, Surry County
- Yadkin County18 miles south
- Stokes County23 miles east
- Alleghany County25 miles west
- Wilkes County30 miles southwest
Common catches near Surry County
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
_(51327213074).jpg){kind=link}
Photo: Virginia State Parks staff, CC BY 2.0
.jpg){kind=link}
Photo: Virginia State Parks staff, CC BY 2.0
.jpg){kind=link}
Photo: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, CC BY 2.0
_0125_(27330088657).jpg){kind=link}
Questions people send about Surry County
How many boat ramps serve Surry County?
7 launches on the map: 7 inland, 0 tidal.
Where should a first trip in Surry County go?
Tumbling Rock Reservoir.
Are there sounds in Surry County?
No, it lies wholly inland.
Which office runs fishing in Surry County?
NCWRC District 7.
Which counters sell bait in Surry County?
Try Big Jim's Fish Pond; there are 3 listed.
Is a guide available to hire in Surry County?
Our guide list shows 1 guide or charter.
Where does NCWRC stock in Surry County?
NCWRC lists 9 waters (4,000 fish, 7 trout waters).
Which town is the Surry County seat?
Dobson, the seat.
What license fee applies in Surry County?
Inland waters take an NCWRC inland fishing license from age 16 ($32 resident, $56 nonresident).
Start in Surry County
Spot pages list fees, access and limits.