When you get here call in to a local tackle shop and get a TAA licence, it covers several miles of the river and you will also get up to date information on which swims are producing.
For rods any big feeder rods or 1.5lb tc barbel rods will do fine, and a matching reel around the 5000 size will be plenty. The fish up here are not massive and you don't need a long chuck so there is no need for 2Lb+ rods and 30Lb braid, I use 10Lb line and change the first 50 yards every couple of months. So long as you use one of the recognised brands the make is irrelevant.
You will need a good selection of feeders and clip on weights as conditions can change, the difference between summer levels and a big flood can be as much as 6 meters, or to put it another way, up to the ridge tiles on a house but in august the old girl is usually a dancing sparkly stream and a far cry from the winter river.
If you contact me closer to the date and let me know where you are staying I will set you up on a decent stretch and sort you out with some rigs.
No charge of course but I never refuse a pint in the Robin Hood or the Golden Ball.