Mother’s Day Caddis
Mother’s Day Caddis
- Family: Caddis
- Size: 10-12mm (Size 12)
- Emergence: Early May through Early June
- Emergence time: Afternoon
The Mother’s Day Caddis Hatch in Montana is one of the least predictable hatches. At least unpredictable to the fly fishing angler! The Caddis comes off every year right around Mother’s Day in Montana, hence the name.
The big question is will the rivers be fishable at that point? Missoula’s major rivers, Blackfoot River, Bitterroot River, Clark Fork River and Rock Creek are normally experiencing runoff at this point of the year. However, on the 3rd Saturday in May, the tributaries open up in Western Montana, so you can chase the Mother’s Day Caddis in the smaller, more easily handled streams coming into the main rivers.
The Mother’s Day Caddis is very important in its sub-surface form. The larvae are active in late Spring, and are effective as anglers are focusing on Skwalas and Western March Browns. These cased caddis larvae are at their largest size, and a tasty morsel for the trout. And of course, if the rivers are fishable, this is the only game in town!
For the local Missoulians, just because the Clark Fork river is brown, doesn’t mean the other rivers are blown as well. Stay in touch with your local fly shop, and we’ll let you know if anything is fishing. Can’t guarantee the answer will be perfect, but we have our ear to the rivers. Check out our fishing report for up to minute river updates.
