Here is what to look for to hit the Mother's Day Caddis hatch on the famed Big Hole River. Typically if you have had a lighter snowpack at low elevations you will have a much better chance at having a good Mother’s Day Caddis hatch. Freestone Rivers like the Big Hole and Yellowstone are influenced dramatically by snowmelt. If you have a small runoff from the low elevation snowpack, it will take longer for the rivers to dirty and swell from melting snow. Another variable you will want to monitor is the actual flow of the river. If water flows are over 2000c.f.s. at the Melrose gauge, trout will be less likely to rise to caddis on the lower and middle sections than they would at lower flows. Mother’s Day Caddis will be fishable at high flows when you get above the Wise River on the Big Hole. A great float for the Mother’s day Caddis is from East bank to Jerry Creek. This section has low gradient and long slicks and undercut banks to fish caddis. You will also find swirling back eddies where fish are feeding on the foam lines. When flows are below 2000c.f.s. at the Melrose gauge the most prolific section with Caddis is the Divide to Melrose section. In the tail-outs of runs and slow moving willow strewn banks you will find trout eating caddis on the surface. Flies of choice for this hatch on the Big Hole River are #12 tan slick water caddis, #12 tan Caddis Pupa, #12 peacock X Caddis.
On the Big Hole River the caddis can hatch from around May 10th -25th. Stay in touch with Sunrise Fly Shop 406-835-3474 or sunriseflyshop.com to get your latest conditions on the Big Hole River’s Mother’s Day Caddis hatch or tips on planning your next Montana fly fishing vacation.
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