Just Add Water!

It could be the record setting streak or the stretch of 80s six days strong. Or maybe it was the warmest rain we have had in March on record. Any which way you cut it, our unprecedented hot streak has launched Iowa on an unstoppable course into Spring!


On Wed. some folks hauled in a fewWalleye
with live minnows. I elected to jig and I
caught this Alabama rig.

  In between chasing the "eyes" and channel cats that are biting actively in the rivers, and being distracted by blooming plants and strutting Turkeys, I have started to focus on Morels. I kept track of some of last year's conditions when Morels fired up in my neck of the woods and I've got to tell you, the only thing separating last year's Morel makin' weather and this last week of weather is water.

Arguably two of the strongest contributors to Morel mushrooms are soil temperatures and moisture.




Soil temps have skyrocketed, but we've been way too dry.
That changes this week.

 

Check out this graph with last year's conditions right next to this year's (circled). I strongly believe 4" soil temps up around 50F and high soil moisture are the two main factors that fire up Morels. We have had a few bad years in a row, but the timing of this rain, and temps cooling into the low 70s, should hold that soil temperature in a favorable zone.  Now that we are adding moisture with plenty of chances for rain in the forecast, we'll have warm and humid nights and fresh rains soaking into our parched soil. 



Root zone soil moisture has been quite arid for 2/3 of the state.
An inch of moisture could potentially double the soil moisture
content. It could also fire up some morels, especially
in Southern Iowa.





Not only does this mean we are about to explode into a lush, green landscape by the end of the week. We could also be plucking Morels across Iowa. I know this is almost a full month ahead of schedule but I plan on looking this week, and I'll keep you posted. You can also track morel sightings with the links on the right.