AN EXTENDED STAY

There is no reason to leave Michigan in the fall unless the opportunity of a cast and blast adventure at a historic sporting lodge in Maine comes calling.

- Glen Blackwood

When the phone rang in late June, Maine and Lakewood Camps were not even on my radar. Certainly, I had thought about someday taking a road trip to the Pine Tree State to explore both bird covers and cold-water outflows and ponds, but that was in the future, not the present. The offer to enjoy the camp's brook trout and landlocked Atlantic salmon fishery the last couple days of September when the big fish are inclined to eat flies more than piqued my interest. I asked about extending my stay to experience a couple days of the ruffed grouse and woodcock season. The resounding answer was "Certainly." The only uncertainty was my wife's views toward this "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," as she has endured me using that phrase regarding sporting trips for 30 plus years. As I told her of the call, she simply rolled her eyes, interrupting me with two simple questions: "When?" and "How long are you gone?" The next "once-in-a-lifetime sporting trip" was in the works.

A phone call with Scott Oehrlein, the head wing shooting guide at Lakewood Camps, came next. Oehrlein, a retired business executive, is a Registered Maine Guide as his second career. His passion for ruffed grouse, woodcock, English setters and the covers of Maine exudes in a comfortable manner in his dialogue, yet the overtones of a C-suite executive resonated. Not in an over-the-top fashion, only one that cares enough that he makes sure the "I's are dotted and T's crossed" to the best of his ability.

We discussed logistics and as much as I wanted this journey to be a road trip in my truck, my dogs and all my gear, time constraints and previous obligations dictated otherwise. When he graciously entrusted me the convenience of one of his 28-bores and shells, our dates were confirmed. As you cannot hunt in Maine on Sundays, and Oct. 1 was a Sunday, I would fish Sept. 29 and 30, and we would follow bird dogs on Oct. 2 and 3.