For those of you a little shy about dropping $20.00 on a tub of Gulp, the Berkley Ripple Shad is a great alternative.  It's one of their Power Baits so there is some scent.  Or, if you just want to change things up, these are very productive on an 1/8 oz jig.  The ribs seem to give it some vibration moving through the water and I can typically get 15-20 fish before I have to cash it.  At $4.99 a bag, I recommend these.  Most productive seem to be the firetiger and smelt colors.  They have a slower 'sink' and you can feel the vibration when you rip them off the bottom.  They also don't shrivel up on your hook if you leave them on your jig overnight.  I out-fished my buddies using live bait on the Rainy last weekend using the 3.5" minnow exclusively.  Not so good if you're fishing mono but if you use a super line (spider wire, nanofil, fire line) it has tremendous feel.  I'm still a big believer in Gulp in Quetico but FWIW anyway.

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Rainy lake......I have always wanted to rent a houseboat (the mother ship) and spend a week on that body of water. One of those things on the bucket list I might not get to.

I am slowly warming to fishing a super line for freshwater fish other than Pike in the north country. One opinion I have faith in suggests fire line crystal.

What is your favored line PJ and > what lb test do you use.

In the past I have usually doubled my super lines and tied a 4 turn uni (8 turns since the line is doubled) when tying directly to a lure or swivel. What knot do you like?

Ripple shad.......I have probably walked past them a hundred times in a Bass Pro shop and never paid them any attention. I will grab a bag and check them out. I bet the redfish would chomp the heck out of them.....they look sweet. 

ditto on the fireline smoke (or green tufline) and double palomar
I'm gonna get some of those ripple shads.