I really liked your ode to the morel at the start of the video.. "the rarity is part of the flavor" and the memories morel hunting creates..That was spot on! 👌👏
I've been hunting them since I was little with my dad. Then I Taught my daughter.......you are so correct about the memories!!! When the land I hunt came up for sale I couldn't get to the bank fast enough. There's nothing like owning a 5 acer honey hole 😊
I actually went to school with a Fella named John Fish back in the late 70s Early 80s ...He was just visiting the area for a while. (Minnesota back then)
Love your video, first time watcher, just wanted to say great video and really want to wish you a great season! I just found the first ones of 2024 in Washington County Pennsylvania
No. Honorable...close. Kind.....misunderstood. Thanks. Thanks for watching, thanks for all your comments. Thanks for seeing the good. You Sir are too kind.
Thanks. Yep, not unless you hop on an airplane and head this way. Most of my videos are not to educate but to encourage. One thing is the same, very long walks in the woods. Can say it enough...most people can't imagine how much ground you have to cover to find morels like this in a non-burn situation. Miles and miles.
@@johnnyfish6051 Yes sir, hunting what a lot of pickers up here call "naturals" (the non-burn morels) in established forests in western WA is often just an excuse for a long hike in the woods. It's much like hunting bighorn sheep in the few Montana units that offer unlimited, over-the-counter permits. (The catch is that those units are immense, rugged, mountain wilderness areas containing very few mature rams; and the season closes on short notice once the quota, typically 2 rams, is killed.) Hunters can go years without even seeing a legal ram; many refer to the hunt as taking their rifle out for an extended hike!
Love to olose my eyes and be able to smell their earthy dankness 😁 The way you speak of morel foraging and how it creates a forever unbreakable Bond between humans with the help of nature is 100% accurate. So many great and unforgettable memories behind growing up and learning how to hunt for such delicacy. My parents taught me at a very young age. Now, almost 40 I am an addict and it's almost our time here in NWMO lol.. I can comfortably say I have 35 years of experience out with the family hunting morels 🍄 making more and keeping them strong, those unbreakable bonds ❤️ We hunt tributaries that branch of off a lake. Prime spots. Lots and lots of ground very similar to this. Love me a sycamore grove 🌲
I just wanted to say that we used your spore spreading method today. Took the ends of some stems and mushrooms a little too far gone and mixed with water in 4 bottles to then spread in our regular areas as well as our new ones. Long story short I may be growing morels off my body next year because I drank out of one of them twice by accident... made for a hilarious moment with the family!
I wish I had morel country like that. Here I’m in steep mountain deep valley country . However the summer mushrooms are much better in my area . So I guess I get something but miss out on other things.
I would never use a mesh bag ever. Like you said, if you study by the time we're picking them, they are already sporting out, so there's no reason to worry about it.I've never had trouble getting them in the same places every single year
You don't truly see exactly what it takes to find morels like this. I might walk 4,6,or 8 hours 2,3 days in a row and find a handful .Then the next day find a bucket full. It's pure luck alot of walking, it's grueling to find the rainbow.
It has such a strong allure! And the really serious hunters have their own special words to describe the good ones. Heard a guy yesterday referred to his as Bannanas😂 another guy called them Donkeys😂 we refer to our giants as Cone Daddys😂 happy hunting to you mate! #MushroomFantasies2024
Anyone else in the appalations of sw Pennsylvania? The morel season here is so late compared to other areas. I can drive a hour down the mountain and mushrooms are a month before my area. Its nice cuz I kinda get two seasons.
I absolutely LOVE the hunt for mushrooms, especially Morels. I know I’ll get bashed for this, but I don’t think they’re super awesome delicious. They are good, but I think oyster mushrooms blow them away taste wise. All opinion. Great hunt!!!
Oysters are great! Easy to grow or plentiful 10 months out of the year for me in the wild. Simple, clean flavor that magnifies any meal. And stay fresh along time after harvest.
You make good videos my friend, I'm from Lawrence ks and look around myself every year , but my hats off to you. You bring em in. How is this season going to be?
Their is no way to predict it Mike. I been doing this a long time. I gave up trying to understand them....and crappie . Foggy Slow all day drizzle as the are emerging is prime.
@johnnyfish6051 hell I understand that. Thanks for actually replying, that's rare theses days. God bless you and your family and I'll be looking forward to your next videos
If you came to my neck of the woods, you would be so dissapointed . you would probably leave and never come back. your very lucky you have such a place to hunt.
Yes I live in a region morels grow. But buddy..I understand what your saying..but what I do ain't luck. But yes I am greatfull. Thank you so much! Take care.
I feel your pain brother. Nothing worse than coming across Morels that are no good anymore. Brings a tear to the eye.. 😢 I found an orchard last season that had some of the biggest ive ever seen and a lot of them... but they were almost all bad. I'll be going there earlier this year!!
2nd most important thing that has helped me find morels is continuing took late in the season. Sometimes, ridiculously late finding huge blown out burnt orange morels that I'd never keep. Their big, bright, and easy to see. New spot!
@@johnnyfish6051 for sure, I've got a couple more really good spots to check this year because of that as well, but it's heartbreaking to see them rotten lol
They did all of our burning last week and it didn't burn but the top layer of the leaves so I expect to be seen the morales coming right through very easily with no issues
Sycamore is my favorite tree too. Never lose with the sycamores once they get started. And those tall, weird things that you keep finding them in. I have those here too down. By the river where the river floods over the bushes and then those things just stay there. I figured the deer must sleep in there. I don't know. I've never seen a Mushroom in there. Because it's not the right area where I am. It's on either side of that in the forest.That stuff is usually where they mow down everything for the e power lines
Yeah, well, we got tons of rain in the last 2 days and there's still some coming. But that wind is raging so the babies can't even grow.As soon as they get moisture, they dry up.
awsome!! i wonder about burn sites here in WV, never heard or seen it here, the reason being is ive found some beautiful black morels, " looked like they were covered in velvet" around a tulip poplar that had been hit by lightning, only found two trees in my life that had been struck and had morels. im assuming they were there before the strike but the stress made them pop
Probably. Whether done by nature or man. Damaged to trees, vegetation, or soil makes the Morels pop! Don't get blacks here. I've never picked or held one.
@@johnnyfish6051 they're sparce here, alot of folks will call the half frees blacks but I think these are different, wish I had a picture, absolutely beautiful morels. I think there color makes them tolerate the cold more, usually the first I find here in this part of WV, usually up high to but ive found them in cycamore where there seems to be stress on the environment, or a change like you've mentioned
It's good! 100% royal flush's in 2024. Cold creates slow soaking moisture. Make the best morel seasons. Been their , seen it, done it, many times. Minimal temps to make them pop then stay cool. Best!
Hey Johnny how was the season? Guessing you're All wrapped up now? Starting up pretty great here in Southern Ontario Canada. Still only early spots are producing so far, we're about 2 weeks early.
Sorry Joe missed your comment. Well it was very dry. Rounded up about eight pounds. I had just enough rain to make a few pop then no rain. Not complaining I've seen it get much worse. Thanks Joe, how about you?
@@johnnyfish6051 crazy hey? It can be so variable with morels. Couple years ago I barely got any, last year was quite good. This year the season started pretty early but nothing much came up for a while. First couple on April 10th and then nothing. Then I started getting some around April 20th. I'm at about 32 lb so far. My best year yet. I think I'm at about 1150 so far. Normally we get morels here until the end of may, but it looks like things are starting to wrap up already. My late spots are looking like they're not too far from being done and I still have a lot of spots yet to check. Hopefully I'll have enough time to get to them. It's been weird though. My best producing spots from last year barely produced anything or the deer ate them all, whereas last year almost none of them were eaten. Last year it was all about the apples, this year I think I've gotten more from spruce! It seems like every four or five years we get a really good flush on Spruce trees. We've had a ton of rain and I was hoping for a second flush, but it's not looking like it. Wish you all the best keep up the great content brother.
@joet81 Mother nature is in control. Yeah, they move around ( not literally). This year, I found a few under river maple and black willow. Wich realy produce my biggest hauls when things are right. That hasn't happened since I started filming. Still have a few things nobody's seen yet. This year's content was pretty weak, so I'm holding a few vids back I was going to play this season for next year. Sounds like you had a fine season. Goodluck! And thank you!
Did you say what county you’re in? I think I heard you mention Kansas? I’m in south west Michigan. Right next to Lake Michigan and sadly our season starts very late. And we never find many! 😢😢
You said Midwest what state I'm in the Midwest and the black morels aren't even up good yet an I'm see you pick big yellows that I don't find till late April and early may 🤷♂️
@johnnyfish6051 lol yeah I caught that afterwards asked at beginning before hand an after watching all previous videos and never heard you mention area till this video 🤦♂️thanks for the reply 👍
Well.....I stated in the video what state I'm in a couple of times. Morels are up in Mo. now, and are peaking in central to Southern MO. Far north MO should be early Morels their. Cold, I like cold after they emerge. It keeps them fresh and prolongs the season. Chase the rain! You've got to look where there has been consistent rain the last few weeks. It's key. RAIN!
@@johnnyfish6051 yeah I made that comment at the beginning and feel dumb after watching it but thanks for the response and I normally go up to memphis mo abt 15 miles from Iowa to look for them on private land but it seems like right when they came out it got too cold again but it’s supposed to warm up next week
What would you say your average day and nighttime temperatures have been? I think ground soil has to warm up to 52° before they start to pop? Thanks for sharing.
I have never measured ground temps. In the spring weather is so up and down. I know when morels are up by looking at what stage vegetation growth is in. I know their up when certain things in nature look a certain way. If that makes any sense. I am very connected to nature. Morels have been apart of me for a long time. So long and so successful I don't wunder about them or try to understand them. I know them I know the woods I know what it takes...for along time now. Temp yeah 50's at night 75 during the day. Number one absolute fact I will bet my life on......morels are flushing when Apple tress bloom....any region! Guaranteed.
Your water and spores that are most likely contaminated are doing far less than if you used a mesh bag, your next level spore putter backer theory is ridiculous to say its a hundred times better than a mesh bag. Everyone do yourself a favor and read a book on the spead and growth of mycelium. While yes you are still spreading spores with your water concoction, Spores are 99 percent spread by air and wind, it starts off with vapors from evaporation on the mushroom but if its elevated like in a mesh bag!! the chance of spread increases ten fold while they are releasing theyre millions of spores. why do you think nature grows mushroom vertical😮. Stop talking to your self in third person, humble yourself and do just the least bit of research beforee you try to make a person who uses a mesh bag sound less than you. Unreal!! Studies of spores have shown them traveling hundres of miles with the rite winds.
Im not culturing mycelium. You don't understand what's even happening here. If you believe 90 % percent of spore travel away. Then me putting a high consintration of spores in small area straight to the ground with a slip that's not going to let spore fly in the wind, I am significantly increasing my odds of find morels their in the future. I'm not feeding a slurry ,not culturing mycelium Get past it! Mushroom spore are incredibly tolerant to any conditions and remain viable for years. Those spores were collected about 5 days before and were put into that natural water about two hours before being dispersed. Nothing is contaminated. It's obvious You can read all you want. But can apply nothing of it. Be mad all you want about a mesh bag I protect my morels using a bucket. U be mad I'm not sending spores your way. But anyone reading this...if you want to increase your odds of picking more Morels I know the way. I'm not teaching you to grow morels in your garden or starting morel mycelium in your basement. That's all huey fuey!
