With Iowa's spring turkey season drawing to a close, and the Morel mushrooms drying up, it's time to change tackle and focus on fishing. There may be one or two more chances to find fresh Morels, but 2011 will likely go down as a very poor year for these spring delights.
In the meantime, we are looking at a perfect forecast for May in Iowa. There are a few tell-tale signs high pressure is overhead: a clear sky, light winds, and cool/dry air. Fish behavior is often noticeably lethargic after a cold front. Activity is much more conservative and to be successful you have to adapt to those conditions. Slow down your presentation and key in on structure whether that's along the shore, or by using your graphs to find submarine honey-holes.
Our high pressure is quite strong and this is going to slow down the bite for the beginning of this week. Nine times out of 10, the spotless sky will force the fish to hold closer to structure or deeper in the water column which will force your fishing strategies to be more specific. Once you find a bait and presentation that works, keep using it!
Monday, May 16, 2011
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Where to Find Morels?
With a savory spring truffle that can sell for $30-40 per pound, "where are the Morels?" could easily be a million dollar question! Unfortunately, there's no simple answer, and that's part of the thrill behind finding them. You can narrow down your search to the types of places these mushrooms thrive by focusing on what they need to survive. First, I'll tell you what the telltale signs are that mushrooms might be in the area, then we'll talk about where in central Iowa you can go to find them.
Morels need three basic things to survive: moisture, food, and suitable temperatures. Did you know, the ground temperature can vary by as much as 20 degrees from the sunny side of a hill to the shady side? Morels do! And they usually "pop" up on the warm sides first. Right now, I'm finding most mushrooms on the south and west facing hillsides. We're still early in the season, so only isolated "pockets" of woods are producing, so you might have to look for quite some time.
What about food? Morels, like other fungi, require dead organic matter to break down or consume. Dead trees are usually a perfect location to target your search. The most success I've had is with dead elm or oak trees with at least 1/2 of the bark still on the tree. These I call "indicator trees." Look around the base, where the roots are, and once you find one take a long look around. Usually where there's one, there's several. Some spots may have 100 or more! Finally, they need moisture. Stick to creeks and ditches, or the lower 1/3 of the hillside. With rain in the forecast though, they should be springing up all over within a week! Usually, a day after a good dousing rain will offer a fresh crop of Morel mushrooms!
Now where to go? Pick apart any stretch of woods, especially along rivers and creeks. State public areas and even city parks will have morels to be found, the trick is getting there before anyone else. If you're up for some gravel travel, one trick I try is to drive along the county roads where there are woodland areas. Seek out those dead indicator trees on the side of the road and stop by for a look. Remember, don't cross any fences and usually public land is only 15 feet from the road. Please be respectful of others' property and don't trespass.
If you're new to finding morels, I highly recommend going with someone who knows how to find them. Your odds of success will be higher and the chances of picking a 'false morel' or mushroom that isn't edible will be much lower. Make sure you pick the correct mushrooms -the wrong ones can make you sick! When in doubt, throw it out. Be safe and good luck.
Morels need three basic things to survive: moisture, food, and suitable temperatures. Did you know, the ground temperature can vary by as much as 20 degrees from the sunny side of a hill to the shady side? Morels do! And they usually "pop" up on the warm sides first. Right now, I'm finding most mushrooms on the south and west facing hillsides. We're still early in the season, so only isolated "pockets" of woods are producing, so you might have to look for quite some time.
What about food? Morels, like other fungi, require dead organic matter to break down or consume. Dead trees are usually a perfect location to target your search. The most success I've had is with dead elm or oak trees with at least 1/2 of the bark still on the tree. These I call "indicator trees." Look around the base, where the roots are, and once you find one take a long look around. Usually where there's one, there's several. Some spots may have 100 or more! Finally, they need moisture. Stick to creeks and ditches, or the lower 1/3 of the hillside. With rain in the forecast though, they should be springing up all over within a week! Usually, a day after a good dousing rain will offer a fresh crop of Morel mushrooms!
Now where to go? Pick apart any stretch of woods, especially along rivers and creeks. State public areas and even city parks will have morels to be found, the trick is getting there before anyone else. If you're up for some gravel travel, one trick I try is to drive along the county roads where there are woodland areas. Seek out those dead indicator trees on the side of the road and stop by for a look. Remember, don't cross any fences and usually public land is only 15 feet from the road. Please be respectful of others' property and don't trespass.
If you're new to finding morels, I highly recommend going with someone who knows how to find them. Your odds of success will be higher and the chances of picking a 'false morel' or mushroom that isn't edible will be much lower. Make sure you pick the correct mushrooms -the wrong ones can make you sick! When in doubt, throw it out. Be safe and good luck.
Monday, May 2, 2011
The Buzz About Morels
If you haven't had any luck finding Morels this season, don't worry, you've got time. I've had several folks new to this blog and the outdoors asking me what all the buzz is about, so let's talk about it.
Morels are considered a delicacy and certainly the most popular edible mushrooms that naturally grow in Iowa. They are not just found here but all over the United States, and they typically only show for a few weeks in the spring, but can be found anytime the conditions are right. People will cover miles of thick woodland cover and steep terrain to pick a patch of these funny looking fungi.
As far as mushrooms go, they taste simply delicious! Morels are the fancy steak of mushrooms and there are many ways to prepare them. One of the classics is to saute them in butter (I like to throw in a little garlic and onion) and serve them as a side dish. If you add some flour, water and beef broth you can make a smooth, savory mushroom gravy. This works perfect for steak and mashed potatoes. They are also quite delicious breaded and fried. You can find more recipes linked on the right.
The hunt is fun, challenging and anyone can do it. It is a thrill to find one hiding in the undergrowth and it's a rewarding feeling foraging for food. Folks have sometimes compared it to a grown-up Easter egg hunt where the prize is a camouflage cap perfect for the frying pan. It's also something the whole family can do. It's a great way to introduce someone to the Iowa outdoors.
Later this week I'll blog about the specific locations I've found Morels hiding so far this year, and I'll make a forecast for the rest of the season.
Morels are considered a delicacy and certainly the most popular edible mushrooms that naturally grow in Iowa. They are not just found here but all over the United States, and they typically only show for a few weeks in the spring, but can be found anytime the conditions are right. People will cover miles of thick woodland cover and steep terrain to pick a patch of these funny looking fungi.
As far as mushrooms go, they taste simply delicious! Morels are the fancy steak of mushrooms and there are many ways to prepare them. One of the classics is to saute them in butter (I like to throw in a little garlic and onion) and serve them as a side dish. If you add some flour, water and beef broth you can make a smooth, savory mushroom gravy. This works perfect for steak and mashed potatoes. They are also quite delicious breaded and fried. You can find more recipes linked on the right.
The hunt is fun, challenging and anyone can do it. It is a thrill to find one hiding in the undergrowth and it's a rewarding feeling foraging for food. Folks have sometimes compared it to a grown-up Easter egg hunt where the prize is a camouflage cap perfect for the frying pan. It's also something the whole family can do. It's a great way to introduce someone to the Iowa outdoors.
Later this week I'll blog about the specific locations I've found Morels hiding so far this year, and I'll make a forecast for the rest of the season.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)