My red maples are flowering - is it time to stop tapping?

[tina.driskell]

I know you need to stop tapping when trees break bud, but does that mean I have to stop when the red maples flower, or when they start showing leaves? Maybe a silly question, but I haven't seen an answer.
Tina

[smokeyamber]

Yes, the sap will get cloudy and if you boil some it will smell bad... red maples do have larger buds sometimes so the test boil will tell you, just boil a small amount. If the buds open you are done...

[jmayerl]

if there are flowers you are way past usable sap flow.

[mapleack]

If the saps still running keep boiling until it tastes bad. You'll be able to tell!

[spencer11]

i would boil till it stops running, even if its not great syrup. its all worth something!