Fly Fishing the Mother’s Day Caddis Hatch on the Lower Madison River (In-Depth Guide)
Fly Fishing the Mother’s Day Caddis Hatch
Every spring on the Lower Madison, there’s a moment when the river shifts gears. The water starts to warm, trout slide into feeding lanes, and clouds of tan caddis signal that winter is officially in the rearview mirror. The Mother’s Day Caddis hatch isn’t just another bug—it’s the first true dry-fly opportunity of the season, where timing, observation, and the right fly can turn an ordinary spring day into nonstop action.
When to Fish the Mother’s Day Caddis on the Lower Madison
The Mother’s Day Caddis hatch on the Lower Madison typically shows up from late April through mid-May, with peak days often lining up around Mother’s Day weekend, depending on weather and water temperatures. Warm, stable afternoons can trigger heavy emergences and fast dry-fly action, while cold fronts or overnight freezes may slow things down temporarily before the hatch rebounds. On a typical day, the best fishing follows a predictable rhythm: mornings are ideal for nymphing caddis larva and pupa in softer seams and deeper runs, midday often brings increased pupa and emerger activity just below the surface, and afternoons into early evening are prime time for adult caddis and dry-dropper setups. As the day winds down, returning egg-laying adults can create some of the most aggressive surface feeding of the hatch, especially along grassy banks and slower edges, making the last few hours of light one of the most productive windows on the river.
Where to Look on the Lower Madison
You don’t need to wait until you see bugs in the air. Caddis are everywhere—what matters is fishable water and repeatable lanes.
Prime caddis water types
Soft seams next to fast water (classic dry lanes)
Inside bends + walking-speed flats (where adults stack and fish track)
Banks with brush/grass (adults staging + egg-layers returning)
Transitions: riffle → run, run → tailout (fish slide here to feed efficiently)
Wind note: If it’s breezy, fish may key more on pupa/emersgers than adults. Don’t force dries all day if they’re not committing.
The Fly Box: Best Patterns, Sizes, and When to Fish Them
1) Larva & Nymphs (Morning + Anytime Fish Won’t Look Up)
If the hatch hasn’t popped yet—or fish are glued to the bottom—start here.
Best larva patterns (dead-drift near bottom)
Caddis Larva (green/chartreuse) — #14–16
Czech/Euro Caddis (ribbed green) — #14–16
Jig Caddis Larva (tungsten/jig hook) — #14–16 (great when you need to get down fast)
Best “generic but deadly” nymphs during this window
Hare’s Ear (natural/olive) — #14–16
Pheasant Tail (standard or jig) — #14–16
Baetis/Olive Perdigon (subtle hotspot optional) — #14–16
Prince Nymph — #12–14 (great searching nymph in spring)
Nymph rig tip:
Fish a 2-fly rig: heavier lead fly + lighter trailer. If the river is pushing, lead with a perdigon/jig pattern and trail a larva or pupa.
2) Pupa & Emergers (Midday Through the Peak)
This is the stage that gets missed the most. You’ll see adults fluttering, but fish are eating pupa rising and emergers in the film.
Best pupa patterns (the “money” subsurface stage)
Sparkle Pupa (olive/tan) — #14–16
Silvey’s Caddis Pupa (olive/tan) — #14–16
Shop Vac — #14–16
Best emerger patterns (film / just-under-film)
Soft Hackle (PT or Hare’s Ear Soft Hackle) — #14–16
Soft Hackle Caddis (olive) — #14–16
How to fish pupa/emersgers (important):
Dead-drift first… then in the last 20% of the drift, let it swing and lift slightly. That “rise to the surface” movement is a huge trigger.
3) Adult Dries (Afternoon Into Evening)
When the Lower Madison turns on up top, it can be fast, visual, and violent.
Best adult patterns
Elk Hair Caddis (tan/olive/peacock) — #14–16
X-Caddis (tan/olive) — #14–16
Parachute/Posted Caddis (tan/olive) — #14 (awesome for visibility from a boat)
Corn Fed Caddis (Olive/Tan) — #14-16
What the Naturals Look Like (So Your Fly Choice Stays Honest)
Most “Mother’s Day Caddis” imitations live in #14–16, with body colors typically tan, light brown, or olive.
Visibility tip:
Caddis days are bumpy-water days. A parachute/posted pattern helps you track the fly and set on subtle eats.
4) Egg-Layers & Skitter Bugs (Evening Fire Drill)
When females return to lay eggs, fish often prefer motion.
Best egg-laying / twitch patterns
Caddis with an “egg sack” / hotspot — #14–16
Peacock-bodied caddis style — #14
High-floating Elk Hair (twitch it) — #14
Skitter method:
Cast quartering downstream toward the bank and give tiny twitches as it drifts into the seam. If you’re getting refusals, go dead-drift or drop to #16.
When They Aren’t Eating Caddis: Throw Something Different
Here’s a truth about hatch fishing: sometimes trout get “bugged out.” They’ve been staring at the same silhouette all day, and your perfect caddis still gets ignored. That’s your cue to change the channel.
During the Mother’s Day Caddis window on the Lower Madison, you can also see:
Blue-Winged Olives (BWOs) — especially on cloudy, drizzly days
Larger mayflies (seasonal overlap—think bigger profiles like large Royal Wulffs )
Yellow Sallies — can show up in the mix some years/conditions
If caddis dries are getting refused, try:
BWO dry or emerger in #18–20
BWO nymph in #16–20
A larger mayfly dry in #12–14 (when you want a different silhouette)
A small yellow stonefly dry in #14–16 (if you’re seeing them)
And yeah… sometimes it really is that simple:
“If you ate McDonald’s all week, a taco would sound pretty good.”
Common Mistakes That Cost Fish
Fishing adults all day because you “see bugs” (while fish are eating pupa/emersgers under the film)
Staying in one mode too long—match the stage, not just the hatch
Ignoring the evening egg-lay return (often the best dry window)
Not downsizing to #16 when water is clear or fish get selective
Wrap-Up: Why This Hatch Is a Big Deal
The Mother’s Day Caddis is a spring window where you can truly do it all—nymph in the morning, hunt emergers midday, and finish the day with legitimate dry fly fishing. If you approach it by life stage and fish the right water for the moment, it’s one of the most consistent “big day” opportunities of the entire spring on the Lower Madison.
Ready to fish the Mother’s Day Caddis at its best? Timing and fly selection make all the difference during this hatch, and a local guide helps you stay one step ahead. Book a spring trip with Rising Trout Fly Fishing Outfitters and fish the Lower Madison during its most exciting window of the season.
