I use 15 LB test on my casting pole and 17 on my surf stick. Buy quality tackle. You do not need a boatload of rods and reels. You do need equipment that is still working at the end of the day. Plastic bushings and loose tolerances will not stand up to the forces put on tackle in this kind of fishing.
Good equipment equals more fish, and is cheaper in the long run.
Dividing the water column into top and bottom, lures most commonly used are plugs and minnow lures on top, and bucktails, large grubs, and spoons underneath. Topwater needs would be satisfied with several surface plugs, such as Striper-Swipers, Creek Chubs or Zara Spooks, in a variety of sizes, erring on the large side, in chrome or shad colors, and a handful of large minnow lures in different colors. The man with all these lures probably has an unnerving glint in his eye. Most fishermen do fine only using one or two of these groups, and perfectly competent fishermen show up with only the lure on their rod and a spare. One really nice aspect of river fishing is that you can visualize where the fish will be by looking at the water.