It’s Caddis Time on the Yellowstone River!

We’ve all been waiting for the Mother’s Day Caddis Hatch to get rolling, and now it has, sort of. There have been sporadic areas of bug activity downstream of Livingston and low down in the Paradise Valley, especially later in the day as the water warms. It’ll be interesting to see how the hatch progresses with the moderate temperatures predicted for this week. But if you want to try to get your caddis fix today, you might float or wade east of Livingston or in the Carter’s Bridge/Pine Creek vicinity. And no need to get to the water early. A post-work outing might even be your best bet. In the meantime, check back often for updates.

Here’s a little caddis fishing advice from last year:

If you’ve never experienced the Mother’s Day caddis hatch, you really should. Just seeing so much bug life in the air, in the bank-side willows, and on the water itself is a marvel. Truthfully, it can often be frustrating fishing, with so many naturals for the fish to choose among (and to make your own imitation indistinguishable). But keep casting and you’ll eventually find some takers.

Most folks think of the Mother’s Day hatch as a dry fly event, but like most hatches it’s truly a progression. Trout will eagerly take caddis pupa patterns before (and during) the hatch itself, and will often show a preference for an emerger over a “traditional” dry fly. So why not fish a double-fly rig with a caddis dry and an emerger or lighter pupa as a dropper? And if you’re having trouble seeing your fly among the real bugs, try dropping the dry from a bigger, more visible attractor dry. Not only will the larger pattern give you a better idea of your caddis imitation’s vicinity, it serves as an “indicator” if your fly gets eaten and sometimes the fish will take the attractor itself, as if they’re tiring of the same old meal.