Being a southern boy, getting away from the cornmeal coating is difficult, however... since being instructed in the art of how to cook fish with a little oil and a little butter with various seasonings many years ago by a QP Sage... old_salt himself I have refined the technique to my own personal taste.  
Since to me there is nothing quite like the taste of fresh caught walleye and or northern, (and yes I love them both)  I usually will not eat smallies since I like to catch them so much!!  What I do now is bring a bottle of Squeeze margarine, and a small bottle of either peanut oil or canola oil, put just enough of both about an ounce to coat the bottom of the pan and cook the fillets turning once until they are done.  Then I spinkle a little fresh ground sea salt on them and enjoy the rich flavor...

To carry my oil and butter to prevent spillage in the food barrel, I put the bottles in a good quality plastic bag with a good zipper seal and I have never had any spills or leaks.

Bruce