The June 16th Itch: Walking the St Ives Great Ouse & My Clever Gear Prep Guide

We’ve hit that point in May where the river close season really starts to test your patience. If you’re anything like me, you’re staring at the calendar, just waiting for the June 16th opening day to finally arrive.

But instead of sitting around twiddling my thumbs, I’ve been using this downtime to make sure that when opening morning comes, there are zero mistakes on the bank. It's all about prep.

Finding New Water on the Great Ouse

Yesterday afternoon, the family and I went for a walk along the St Ives stretch of the Great Ouse. It’s a stunning part of the river, and it was the perfect excuse to do a bit of sneaky, out-of-season recce work.

I actually discovered a few cracking looking pegs on a new venue that I’ve been eyeing up. Walking the banks when the rods are packed away is honestly the best time to spot under-the-radar features, overhanging trees, and slack-water pockets. With local clubs just starting to confirm their season ticket availabilities this week, my mind is already fully locked into the new season.

Today's Bench Plan: The Essential Rig & Tackle Audit

Today, I am turning my attention to my own tackle bags and boxes to take full stock. Before making that first cast, you need to know exactly where your gaps are. Here is the exact checklist I’m running through at my bench:

• The Terminal Tackle Count: I'm digging out my small bits to see what needs restocking. Do I have enough reliable snaps, solid hooks, and the right weight jig heads for the flows?
• Hardware & Line Check: I'll be inspecting my rods for any subtle signs of wear and tear or cracked eyelets from winter storage, alongside checking the braid and leader materials.
• Lure Stocktake: Going through the entire collection of soft plastics, spinners, and crankbaits to ensure everything is clean, rust-free, and ready to fish.

My Budget-Friendly Storage Hacks (Pool Noodles & Cracker Tubs)

Over the years, I have seen it all on the bank—expensive dedicated lure storage, lunch boxes, designer Tupperware, the works. But you don't need to blow a fortune just to keep your gear organized. Here is how I do it on an Average Joe budget:

• The Standard Bait Box Trick: I am a huge fan of using a standard, cheap bait box to store my loose lure stuff. It’s durable, fits perfectly in a bag, and does the job without the eye-watering price tag.
• The Pool Noodle Rig Bin: I like to pre-tie some of my more intricate rigs, like my drop-shot or Texas setups, ahead of time. To store them, I cut a section off a standard foam pool noodle, wrap the pre-made rigs around it, secure them with pins, and pop the whole thing into a secure plastic container—usually an empty cream cracker tub! It’s cheap, incredibly durable, and keeps lines perfectly straight. I actually use this exact setup for my pike wire traces when deadbaiting in the autumn, winter, and early spring—it stops the treble hooks from being exposed, springing loose in your bag, and causing harm.
• Chewing Gum Tubs: Don't throw away those plastic chewing gum tubs when they are empty. They make the absolute perfect, pocket-sized waterproof containers for small spinners or spare jig heads.

The Value of the Prep

At the end of the day, success on opening morning isn't down to luck; it’s down to the work you do right now while the rivers are closed. Sorting your boxes, pre-tying your rigs, and securing your club tickets early means you can hit the bank running on June 16th with total confidence.