I'd rather not feed the wildlife any more than necessary, just to avoid training the birds to depend on handouts, so I try to keep nothing that's bigger than I can eat. Last summer on Metacryst (a fairly untravelled lake), by the time I had pulled up to a rock to clean my catch, there were two seagulls floating about 20 m offshore, just waiting. I don't think I've ever seen eagles eating "Quetico roadkill" though.

So for NP, my keepers are usually 18-20" or so, which I assume counts as "small". Besides, northerns this size are everywhere, and they're really dumb, which is important for fishing noobs like me  ;D. I use Furtman's method for cleaning too, and, well, I'm getting better at it.

NP has a stronger taste than walleye, so I find it takes better to spicier recipes. Fried blackened or seasoned with lemon pepper are my two favourites for NP, while walleyes, trout and lakers usually get just a bit of s&p and maybe some herbs. I can go either way with bass.