For this morel picker, getting lost means a 3 hour tour

This week I’d planned to discuss spring jigging kokanee salmon on area lakes.

That was until I went morel mushroom hunting.  And brought home gallons! 

So, this week it’s gonna be morels, baby!

The kokes will probably bite until the end of June, but now’s the time to jump on the morels.

All veteran morel hunters have their secret spots.  Don’t embarrass yourself asking your neighbor where he goes. 

He’ll most likely reply, “I won’t tell you but I’ll take you sometime.”  

Ya, right!

But we all know those tasty ‘rooms show up the year following a forest fire.  So forget your neighbor’s hotspot and head up the Flathead South Fork to the Trail Creek and Bear Creek Fire Areas.

Recent heavy rains followed by warm days have caused the morels to pop up all over those fire areas.

I’ve gone twice.  The first trip I wandered through the Trail Creek Fire Area until I found a spot where I literally sat down and picked over a gallon without moving more than a few feet.

I’d stupidly left my cell phone in the truck and got so turned around wandering with my eyes to the ground, I got lost.

My penance was carrying a 5 gallon pail an extra 3 miles.

Wife Nan went with me on the second trip.  After noting lots of human tracks where we hunted on Trail Creek, we drove over to Bear Creek.

We figured we have to climb several hundred yards off the road to find unpicked areas and Nan questioned me for parking at an obvious turnout.

Well, we found all the morels we wanted less than 30 yards off the road.

Before you go, you must stop at a U.S. Forest Service office for maps and regs.  In short, if you pick mushrooms in a burn area, you must purchase a $20 permit, depending on quantities.

Contrary to the brochure stating a “Charge permit is required for each person,” your wife, kids, grandparents, friends, nephews, and even that neighbor can pick on your permit as long as you don’t exceed the permitted quantity.

Now’s the time! Go get some morels. 

They taste great with those kokanee salmon you’re gonna catch next week!