A New Fly Shop Lands on Waynesville's Main Street, and It Comes With Cold Beer

By Jon Tharp, Broker  ·  June 30, 2026

A new fly shop on Main Street in Waynesville opened its doors with a ribbon-cutting this week, and it comes with a feature most tackle shops do not advertise: cold beer on hand. Shining Rock Angler & Outfitters, owned by husband-and-wife team Josh and Nina Whorton, celebrated its grand opening on Monday, June 29.

The couple call it a mom-and-pop fly-fishing shop, and the goal is to welcome anglers of every experience level, not just the people who already know a nymph from a dry fly.

Where is the new fly shop, and what makes the location work?

The shop sits in Waynesville, the seat of Haywood County and one of the most walkable downtowns in Western North Carolina. Waynesville is easy to reach, just off US-74 and US-23 and roughly a 30-minute drive west of Asheville, which puts it within range of both locals and the steady stream of visitors heading toward the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Smokies.

The name is a local one. Shining Rock Wilderness, the backcountry area inside Pisgah National Forest, rises just north of town and gives the shop its identity. For a business built around mountain water, it is a fitting choice.

Who is behind Shining Rock Angler & Outfitters?

Josh and Nina Whorton have spent 25 years in fly-fishing, and they have guided groups across Western North Carolina and the Low Country for decades. That is a long résumé for a small shop, and it shows in how they are approaching the business.

They said opening a shop in the mountains was an easy decision, and it is not hard to see why. The streams around Haywood County hold wild and stocked trout, the season runs long, and Waynesville has the kind of foot traffic that supports a specialty store.

What stands out is the emphasis on the beginner. Plenty of fly shops can feel like a closed club, where you need to already speak the language to feel welcome. The Whortons are pitching the opposite, a place where someone who has never held a fly rod can walk in and leave with a plan.

What can you actually do there?

Retail is only part of it. The shop plans to offer fly-fishing classes and guided trips, which matters for anyone who wants to fish local water but has no idea which creek to start with. A guide who has worked these streams for decades can turn a frustrating afternoon into a good one.

Then there is the beer. Pouring a cold one in a fly shop is a small thing, but it signals the tone the Whortons are going for, relaxed and social rather than transactional.

The plan that may matter most to the local fishing community is open vice night. The idea is to bring anglers from across the mountains together to tie flies, swap stories, and meet one another. In a region where fishing knowledge often passes from person to person, a regular gathering spot like that fills a real gap.

Why a fly shop fits Waynesville

Waynesville has quietly become one of the better small-town anchors in the region, with a Main Street that mixes galleries, restaurants, and independent shops. A fly outfitter slots in naturally, drawing the same outdoor-minded crowd that already comes to town for the cool summers and the access to Pisgah and the Smokies.

It also speaks to something larger about Haywood County. People move here, or buy a second home here, in large part for the outdoor life. A shop that lowers the barrier to one of the area's signature pursuits only strengthens that draw.

If you have been near downtown lately, it is worth a stop, whether you fish or just want to understand why so many people in these mountains do.

If a story like this one has you picturing your own life closer to the water in Western NC, Jon Tharp is always glad to talk it through.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Shining Rock Angler & Outfitters located?

Shining Rock Angler & Outfitters is in Waynesville, the seat of Haywood County in Western North Carolina. Waynesville sits just off US-74 and US-23, roughly 30 minutes west of Asheville and a short drive from the Blue Ridge Parkway. The shop held its grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday, June 29, 2026. It takes its name from the Shining Rock Wilderness in nearby Pisgah National Forest, one of the most recognizable backcountry areas in the region and a fitting nod for a fly shop rooted in mountain water.

Who owns Shining Rock Angler & Outfitters?

The shop is owned by Josh and Nina Whorton, a husband-and-wife team who describe the business as a mom-and-pop operation. The Whortons have spent 25 years building careers in fly-fishing and have guided groups across Western North Carolina and the Low Country for decades. They said opening a shop in the mountains was an easy decision. That experience shapes the store, which is built to welcome anglers of every skill level, from people picking up a fly rod for the first time to seasoned fishermen who know these streams well.

What does the shop offer besides gear?

Beyond retail, Shining Rock Angler & Outfitters plans to offer fly-fishing classes and guided fishing trips, which makes it a useful first stop for visitors who want to fish local water but do not know where to start. The shop also pours cold beer, leaning into the relaxed, social side of the sport. One of the more community-minded plans is an open vice night, where anglers from across the mountains can gather to tie flies, meet one another, and share stories.

Is Waynesville a good place to fly fish?

Waynesville is well positioned for fly fishing. Haywood County sits in the heart of trout country, with wild and stocked streams threading through Pisgah National Forest and the surrounding mountains. The Pigeon River and its tributaries, along with numerous smaller creeks, hold brook, brown, and rainbow trout. North Carolina maintains designated public mountain trout waters throughout the area, and the nearby Great Smoky Mountains National Park adds even more. Having a local shop with guides and classes makes the sport far more accessible for newcomers and second-home owners alike.