Rod setup for river / using expensive lures

What river?  I imagine fishing the Youch is a lot different from fishing the other rivers.  What are you fishing for?
 
MO

I can give you a few tips.  Their pretty obvious but.  When fishing on the bottom of a river that has current from the shore.  Never cast up stream unless you already know the bottom features.  If you do your rig or lure, if heavy, will just get pushed or wedged under rocks and trees.  And if you do get snagged try walking upstream to get it out.  Always cast straight out or down stream never up.  A good way to avoid snags when shore fishing is just expierience on a particular part of water and knowing where they are. As far as you set up goes using bell sinkers are good to go their round shape limits snags.  A long sturdy rod is always a good choice when on the river. Hope this helps

when fishing from shore, make sure your using lighter lures and lures that arent set to run deeper than 5ft cuz most places from shore arent more deeper than that, another thing when you are boucning off of trees rocks and other garbage, this triggers fish so the more risky you are with losing the lures the better chances you are gonna get some fish

I primarily toss lead head jigs/curly tail grubs/sassy shad.  They're cheap, easy to change up colors, and the fish seem to like them.  I lose about 10 lures, just about any time that I fish the rivers, and can't afford $40 every time fishing.  I also use lures like Husky Jerks and other lures that only dive 3-4'.  I usually fish many of the same spots, so I know where many snag areas are.  Another good thing to try is a fly rod.  Barely get any snags, and will often times out fish the spinning gear. 

use braided fishing line or some type of superline. i like Berkley Fireline or Sufix braid. use 20-30lb line which is about the same thickness as 8-10 lb mono, you'll straighten hooks before you lose your lure. also use rod thats fairly stiff so that you can feel when your lure bumps into obstacles.
 
also Dicks Sporting Goods has a sale this week on Matzuo and Excalibur lures, $2 a pop! that sure beats spending $6-10 on rapalas or yo-zuris.

Rebel Wee-r's and Rebel Deep Wee-R's are great lures and can be found at most places like Dicks, Gander Mtn., etc... for $2 or less/apiece. if you insist on using crankbaits from shore, theyre cheap. river fish will eat almost anything.