Always interesting to read what other people think.  My preference is lake trout, walleye, small mouth bass and then go without.  If all we have is northern, we just don't eat fish.  I have eaten northern a few times, but just don't like the bones.  I know, they say you can fillet northerns.  But even if I got the bones out, I am not crazy about the taste.  Actually, I think bass is a close second to walleye.  One plus to eating small mouth is that you are removing an invasive species.  One problem with lake trout is if you're a group of two, the trout is often too large  (over 24 inches) for only two people.
Westwood