I dont think northern would be a good choice . There is very little oil in the meat like the other poster said. I am smoking up 6 channel cats right now. I soaked in salt for 36 hrs cause I could smoke them yesterday. 12 hrs of brining is enough. I smoke with a bunch of charcoal and a few junks of apple this time but mostly cherry wood. I use chinks about the size of a softball and put them on the charcoal but must be wet wood.after 3-4 hrs @ 200 degrees it works fine. I only smoke Whitebass and catfish.

But the fruits of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,faithfulness, Gentleness and self control. Against such things there is no law. Galations 5: 22&23