I did some searching for ya...
You have to feel, squeeze and sniff a hop cone to determine its ripeness and readiness for picking. If the cone feels cool and moist, it's not ready. A dry and papery feel is a sign of readiness. Now squeeze the hop cone. If it springs back after squeezing, it's probably ready. If it stays rather compressed, it's not ready yet. Next, tear off some of the cone petals (bracts) and squeeze the inside-ends where the golden-colored lupulin glands are. The resulting "resin" should be feel very sticky. If it seems a little thin or watery, the cones aren't ready. Now smell the squeezed resin. The aroma should be quite fragrant--lightly spicy or floral. If the aroma is very faint, the hops are not ready for picking. If you perform these tests once or twice a week, you will get a feel for the ripening process and know when the cones are ready for picking.
The flowers will open up a bit, and have a very hoppy smell. You will need to keep a watchful eye, though, as it is a short time between optimum ripeness and them going over, when they will start to turn brown and decay. Pick them on a dry, sunny day, when any dew or dampness has dried off. It's a long smelly job, and your arms will get covered in scratches, so be warned.
Here is a pic of ready hops, see how they are thin and papery, and some of the cone tips may start to brown..Depending on your region and rizhome size and how much fertilizer they got as well as water...this will vary..Hope this helps...
Bighops
http://images.search.yahoo.com/imag...&sigr=114556l61&sigi=11ajffi4q&sigb=11shj1eah