DManA,
In our Minnesota climate, wait awhile before pruning it back. Our spring is very late this year and it might still leaf out higher up than that. I’d wait a couple more weeks.
I’ve got several types of clematis, and you know what? It doesn’t seem to matter. I’d always cut them back as soon as I saw growth, but I forgot to do it this year, and all are doing fine and loaded with buds. I’m just shaping them from now on rather than whacking them back.