The Rocky River flows 95 miles through North Carolina's Piedmont region, beginning near Mooresville in Iredell County and traveling southeast through Cabarrus County before forming county boundaries between Stanly and both Anson and Union Counties. Eventually merging with the Yadkin River to form the Pee Dee River in eastern Stanly County, this tributary drains 1,413 square miles across seven counties. The river's character transforms significantly along its course—the upper sections near Concord feature considerable mud bottom, while downstream sections increasingly live up to the river's name with approximately 95% rock substrate. Water clarity improves dramatically as you travel downstream, particularly during low-rainfall summers when visibility can reach up to 10 feet in the lower sections. The river offers varied fishing opportunities from shallow shoals and riffles to deep pools, with productive bank spots limited by private land access throughout much of its length.