John's soap box

Last year I was able to purchase a NuCanoe Frontier 12.  after countless hours of web searching for the perfect 1 person fishing craft-for Fly Fishing. What did I look for -stability so I could stand and cast, site fish, haul and double haul -open flat deck to limit tangles and fouling -ability to customize -ability to add a motor and other electronics -puncture proof or at least very resistant -something with enough carrying capacity that I could do multi day overnight trips -storage -needed to be small enough to not take up all of the garage -needed to be gig enough -small enough for tight rivers -big enough for trips on big lakes-like Michigan, West Grand Traverse Bay, East Grand Traverse Bay,   Lake St Clare etc -Not stupid expensive-which eliminates everything over $1500 bucks (my expensive may differ from   yours). With this criteria I was able to narrow it down to the NuCanoe Frontier 12, Feel Free Lure and another brand but I forget the name so it doesn't ma

For those that know me know that Alex "Cheese" Hawke took his own like a little more than a year ago.  He was a fellow shop lackey at the Northern Angler Fly Shop (TNA).  He had graduated with a finance degree and was working at a bank.  Just after tax season, April 28th.  It was crushing to hear.  I only knew Cheese for about 2 years.  We first met at Traverse City's Mens Night.  An evening where all of the downtown shops cater to men by staying open late and serving snacks and drinks.  It seems as though as the evening grows later the more people show up at TNA.  Some people were regulars and fly fished others just roll in for the free drinks.  Its a good time. Cheese was a tall slender kid (early 20's) with dark fluffy hair and a big smile.  He was quick to give shit but laughed when he got it.  He rode a Kawasaki 250 motor cycle with a Harley Davidson badge.  He called it the "Hardly."  Fitting.  He sat at the end of the bar sipping a PBR chatting, talk