Plymouth area carp

[iland99]

I've never caught a carp in my life. I moved to Plymouth about a year ago and always have gone up north to fish. Two-part question:

First, I thought I'd try to hit a river near Plymouth this weekend, I've got some new equipment to try out. I'm not very familiar with the cities just yet. What would be a good river with open water to try for carp? Preferably near Plymouth.

2nd: I've got a 7' medium heavy BPS Bionic Blade spinning rod with an Okuma Metaloid MDS-30 spinning reel, spooled with 30 pound Power Pro. Obviously I'm a rookie at all this. Will this setup be OK? What would be a good bait to try? Do you think the carp will shy away from the Power Pro, should I use a flourocarbon leader?? I guess if the river water is stained it shouldn't matter a whole lot. Please help!! Thanks in advance.

[Roughfisher]

You've got the Crow River in the Rogers area, which has a decent carp population. The Mississippi to the north, especially around the Coon Rapids Dam, is excellent Carp water. Also the Rum in Anoka. Your setup sounds fine - in stained water I would stick with the Power Pro, but in clear water a fluorocarbon hooklength will produce more strikes. Use nightcrawlers or canned corn. Or make doughballs out of bread dough, flavor it with strawberry syrup or creamed corn.