River Wild
The Klamath: Its history, its bounty, its rebirth.
Craig Ballenger (1955 - 2024) was a truly remarkable individual, the kind of person who left a deep impression on everyone fortunate enough to know him. His passing in September 2024 left an absence that is profoundly felt.
Craig was an adventurer, historian, philosopher, and storyteller. His wisdom spanned far beyond fly fishing, encompassing geology, history, and the deeper meaning behind the waters we cherish. He authored Shasta’s Headwaters: An Angler’s Guide to the Upper Sacramento and McCloud Rivers in 1998 and played a pivotal role in the relaunch of California Fly Fisher as our senior editor. For decades, Craig was California Trout’s historian and storyteller, most notably as the beloved caretaker of Trout Camp, a stunning 40-acre property on the Upper Sacramento River. There, he hosted everyone from donors to congressmen to California governors, sharing his passion for conservation and fly fishing with the same wit and charm that made him unforgettable.
3 posts
Craig’s Corner: The October Caddis Window
Originally published in Shasta’s Headwaters: An Angler’s Guide to the Upper Sacramento and McCloud Rivers The sun had…
Craig’s Corner: Rambles in the High Sierra
We were hiking downhill for once. Rarely in California’s High Sierra is a trail actually level. But this…
