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Does your deciduous Clematis look like this?  If it does, cut it down to 6-10 inches now.  In February, these vines will begin to produce new buds all along the stem.  The brown dry leaves will remain and look bad all year.  Not only that, the plant will become a huge overgrown mess. Remember that what ever growth they produced last year will be produced again this year.

It is important to cut these vines back now to prevent the waste of energy after the plant has gone to all the effort of producing hundreds of buds that will only be cut off.  Its a bit like pruning a Rose bush.  After cutting it back, it helps to add some granular flower fertilizer.

Then, just sit back and the vine will produce lots of new growth in March.  After the vines grow to 12 inches it is important to tie them up to a trellis structure.  If not they will twist and attach themselves to whatever is around.