Hunting Wild Mushrooms-Foraging for Boletus

July 20, 2008 | By Larry In Fish | Comments(7)

It looks like it is going to be a great summer here in upper Michigan for hunting wild mushrooms. We are getting a lot of rain and that is a key ingredient. What I call the summer mushrooms appear to be just starting. The first edible Boletus I am usually able to find is the Boletus Subglabripes. This is a good mushroom when it is real young but turns very soft with age. During the years when this wild mushroom is plentiful I dry them to use in roasts and other meals I add mushrooms to. They dry and reconstitute very well. I have included the picture of a spore print in this post for this mushroom. Just to give those of you that are not familiar with it an idea of what it looks like.Boletus subglabripesCap-Light Brown to rich Cinnamon, 11/2 to 4 inches, convex then expanding to almost plain.Stem- 2-4 by ½ to ¾ inches even or tapered at the base. Pale to bright yellow.Flesh- Pale to Lemon yellowGills- This mushroom has tubes not gills. Spore print deposit color -pale olive brown.Habitat- Found in mixed deciduous woods, occasionally under spruce. Found in Eastern and Eastern North America.Season- June though September

Classified as Edible

Consult your Wild Mushroom guide for a more in-depth description.

If you are not sure what you are picking don’t eat it. Consult an expert to aid you in your identification.

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Identifying Poisonous Mushrooms

July 9, 2008 | By Larry In Fish | Comments(9)

Amanita-Desroying Angle

With mid summer taking place in most of the country there is a large variety of mushrooms growing in most locations. A question has been asked “How can you Identify a Poisonous Mushroom ?”To start with the best advice I can give you is-know what you are picking. If you are unsure of your identification don’t eat it. Seek out an expert in the area you live in. Most of them would be happy to help you . Also your local county extension service may have booklets you can get for little or no charge on edible mushrooms that grow in your state. Here in Michigan, Michigan State University hosts a Mushroom Seminar in late summer or early fall. If you would like more information on this send me an email and I will send you the link.Purchase a couple of good books on Wild Mushrooms. Don’t use just one. Some wild mushrooms look great- because it looks good does not mean it is edible. The Amanita genera I think is one of the nicest looking mushrooms in the woods. Pick the wrong mushroom in this group and it will kill you! This is one genera I stay away from completely.Another myth I have heard is-If the animals eat it-it must be edible. Not True, Their digestive system is different then ours. A mushroom that would make a Human very ill may not even affect a Deer or a Squirrel.

If you are new to mushroom hunting start by leaning to positively identify one or two edible mushrooms in your area. Just eat them till you get to know more of what you are doing-then move on. This is a great hobby and very rewarding. Don’t get careless. Do your homework. Take a spoor print and do your research. The only way you can safely tell if a mushroom is poisonous or not is to make a positive identification.

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Filed under: Fish

Deep Water Lake Trout Fishing-Bobbing

July 5, 2008 | By Larry In Fish, Fishing Tips | Comments(2)

This is one of the most relaxing types of fishing you will ever do. Turn your radio on. Make some coffee- kick back in your boat, relax and catch some fish.The key to this is deep calm water. Usually 200 to 300 feet. It needs to be a calm day so you can anchor and maintain you position. Not to mention it gets pretty uncomfortable sitting on the edge of your boat when it is bouncing up and down in 2 or 3 foot waves. If you have never bobbed for Lake Trout or are fishing a new area check with the local fisherman or at a bait shop to help get you pointed in the right direction. This can really save you some time. These fish are usually on or near the bottom, but suspended enough to be able to pick them up on your sonar or fish locator. Look for drop offs, underwater islands and plateaus. If you start marking fish consistently it is time to drop anchor. I will fish the location for about 30 minutes and if it doesn’t produce any fish I will move on till I locate them or make the determination they just are not hitting. Once you locate a school of Lake Trout that are biting you should have some action for awhile.The Fishing Tackle you will need.Boat anchor and 400 feet of anchor line-This is a lot of work-pulling an anchor up that is 300 feet down. You can purchase a large floating ball. It has a place to slide your anchor rope through. You can use the power of your boat to pull the anchor to the surface. Its works great. Just be sure the anchor is not hung up before you start the process.

Bobbing Stick-These can be hard to find. I have not seen them in many of the sporting goods catalogs. If you can’t find a source to order them from you should be able to purchase one from a shop in the area you are fishing in. If bobbing is done in that area they will have them.

Plastic coated wire line-300 feet should do the trick. Due to the depth of the water you need the weight. Nylon is to light and has too much stretch.

Nylon line for leader line-10 feet of nylon line- Tie this line to the swivel end on the wire line.

Jigs-¾ to 1 oz lead jigs- Assorted colors and styles.

Cut Bait-You can catch suckers for this or purchase them. If you are working with a large sucker cut the fish into strips. Then cut pieces about 1 inch wide by 2 inches long for on your jig. If you purchase small bait suckers you can use the head and the tail then cut chunks in-between depending on the size. Almost any fish will work for a bait fish.

Finding the bottom with your jig can be a little challenging at first, But you will get use to it over time once you know what it feels like. After you locate the bottom raise your jig about 6 inches and start fishing there. If you don’t get any hits try raising it a couple more feet and so on till you find the fish. When you feel the strike set your hook instantly. If you aren’t getting any strikes change colors this can make a big difference. Also jigs with spinners on them sometimes work very well.

This is a lot of fun and can produce some really nice Lake Trout. If you have access to some deep water Lake Trout fishing give it a try.

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Filed under: Fish, Fishing Tips