Anybody Eat Mussels Out Of The Streams?

[hank franklin]

My cousin and I were on the Bourbeuse recently and found live mussles all over the gravel bars, presumably left there from the flash flooding. I wasn't sure if they were even legal to take, much less eat, so we left them be (and actually relocated several to the stream bed, they were facing an almost certain death by racoon if left on the gravel bar.)

Anyway, I checked the wildlife code upon returning home and found that you can take five per day, year-round. Upon further reading I found that freshwater mussels are tougher than the saltwater variety, and presumably not as good to eat. They also filter pollutants so may not be a good idea to eat any way.

Long story short: Does anyone out there eat them? If so, how are they typically prepared? I might try a gravel bar dinner of them someday, but not sure what I'm getting into.

Hank

[taxidermist]

A few will not hurt you, I think saltwater mussels are better. I will stick with scallops and clams. They ones I have tried were chewy like overcooked clams.

[timsfly]

we used to eat mussels all the time 30 years ago, don't know if they are still safe to eat or not, but they were good 30 years ago.

we used to cook them on a grill and eat them as soon as they opened up, tobasco sause and mustard is they way I liked them.

[materman]

A few will not hurt you, I think saltwater mussels are better. I will stick with scallops and clams. They ones I have tried were chewy like overcooked clams.

heck the depression has'nt even hit yet, I think i'll hold off on the mussels till I get really starved