Matthew, I've fished Arnside couple of times and it's good fun on light tackle. As Chris has said, you don't want heavy gear as it just spoils the enjoyment, a carp rod is OK, even a heavy feeder or barbel rod will do. Heavy line is not required and neither are heavy leads or big casts , the fish can be caught just a few yards out and two ounces will hold bottom no problem.
Hooks need to be on the small side as it's flatties what you are after and they do run big here (not that I've hooked one!) so a size six up to a one would be right.
Baits is rag or lug, fresh or black. Frozen black will do and stinky old lug is not to be thrown away either, they like it!
The majority of the tide here is a slow ebb with water falling and creating a quite strong flow twenty to thirty yards out especially at the beach at the end of New Barns Road, but then the tide turns and all is still for a short time till the tidal bore starts and a horn is sounded in town to clear tourists off the sands and then its time to either seek a place on the pier or pack up. It comes in extremely quickly and fills up the estuary in no time, quite impressive actually.
