TTuman Lake Observations

Sunday 3-29-15
After a cold week there is no need to even look for mushrooms today. Signs of spring did rear their head this week with the Dogwood trees blooming on Wednesday, the Bradford pear trees started blooming on Friday, along with the elm trees starting to get a tinge of green on them. The grass has greened up nicely, but no dandelions. As the old timers always told me that the first sign of spring in when the buzzards show up. They made their first appearance in the sky on Thursday. Truman Lake water surface temp. today is 45 degrees, up only one degree since last Sunday. In my area I always went by April 15th to find mushrooms, it is looking more like that date will hold true again this year. Good Luck Hunting to All!

 

just got in from a Sunday walk around to a different area. Didn't find any mushroom but did a box turtle fresh out of the ground with mud on his shell, a 4' long black snake and two soft shell turtles in the creek. We can check them off the list of things that happen. Truman Lake surface temp. this morning 50 degrees. Well get them sooner or later.

 

Came home with 6 yellow morels tonight, they were all small and one I found was still bent over, meanings they just popped this morning. Well the Lilac bushes just came in to bloom yesterday and some flowers that are like ground cover came into bloom yesterday also. I will have to do some research to pin point exactly what they are and post. Truman Lake water temp. is 52 degrees at the dam. The reason for this thread is to find out which sign mother nature gives us can tell us when we will go into the woods and Find morels, not just look.

 

Dear smguffer,
I am still searching for the "Magic Bullet". Based on what I saw last year, flowers are the key "I Think". Your 2nd sentence I totally agree with. On Friday I did see some tulip flowers that had bloomed red, beautiful. Thank you for your help.
Dear newrocker15,
Thanks for your observation, this is one I have not noticed. I will drive around the older part of my town tomorrow to confirm. As far as the dryads saddle, I am not sure of the species you speak of, more research on my part to do.
Dear JasonL,
Thanks for your confirmation on what is going on, wish I had time to get back down to the Queen City.
A Few facts now: Table Rock Lake surface water temp. 65 degrees
Lake of the Ozarks surface water temp. 56 degrees
Truman Lake surface water temp. 58 degrees
Smithville Lake surface water temp. 53 degrees
Lake water temps can be a very good guide for finding morels.
My hunting experience today was, went to the some on high ground where I found them on Friday, did not find anything.
Second spot, low ground close to creek, found 10 morels. Not just any morels, all were very small under 1 inch tall. Picked two, left the rest to grow. Third spot, a draw off of a creek so I will call it middle ground, found one grey 1 1/4 tall.
The flowers I spoke about on Friday are periwinkle flowers. I am still "hunting" for morels.
Brass tacks time: I am basing my theory on a flower that blooms when a person can go into the woods and find decent size morels, not baby's. As of today and last season's observations, I will place the bet on day lilies in bloom.
More brains and eyes are better than me, all help is appreciated.
Good Luck To All!

 

Dear newrocker15,
Flowering of the May apples, keen eye you have! As of Sunday that has not happened here at Truman Lake, but the spot where I did find my earliest morels the May apples were the tallest. Good skill not luck puts them in the skillet, Thank for the info, I will look hard at this one.
Dear morelmanic78,
Read the post in the thread on Missouri board "shrooming ain't for wussies" and we have ruled out the that trees are not the best answer. I am looking deep into this mystery. Keep your eyes open, we are looking for the sign that it is time to "pick" morels not just find baby's. As I am old and slow keep up the good fight and ye shall be rewarded.
Thank You and Good Hunting to All!