Northwest Fishing Reports

I just got into foraging and found out that the cattails that you see in the shores of marshes are edible. Seems that if you peel the layers off, there is a starchy center which you can chew and suck up. The Rhizomes in the roots can be dug up and boiled to be eaten like a potato.

I plan to pick at least a dozen cattails that the next time I see more in Kirkland

heard of that years ago and meant to try it but haven't gotten around to it

Saw this on SurvivorMan. Never tried it but in the show The root bulb can be really bitter. Also the fluffy stuff makes great fire starter.

I think there are some things that should be left to eat only in survival situations?

I've eaten lots of them in the past. That said, there's a reason not many folks eat them and I'd be very wary of where you pick them, definitely check the water quality.

I've eaten a lot of the nice tender spikes that are a part of the root system. Actually easy to get and I like the taste, Sort of Cucumbery!

Catails are important to wetlands because they pull toxins from the water and store them in their tubers. So be sure to only harvest cattails from pristine wetlands.