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I have a rather mature rabbits foot fern which has larger and more brownish rhyzomes than the types I usually see at stores such as Lowes. The leaves are also much larger. This is the first year it has produced spores on the underside of its leaves.

Is there a way to tell by looking at the spores shells if they are about to drop the spores? I have been pulling off a frond every week for the past 3 weeks and placing them between two sheets of paper and still nothing has been dropping from the fronds on to the paper.

I didn't know if it was a timing thing or if there has to be a certain amount of light/humidity/temp for the spores to release. It might just be that I am pulling the fronds before the spores are ripe??

Any ideas?

You are probably pulling the frond off before the spores are ripe. When the spores are ripe when you pull the frond and place it between the 2 sheets the spores should drop within 24 hours. I hope this helps.