As a new member I agree mkoehn… this is a great site. The advice I can give regarding fishing for cats with a pontoon is that it is much easier with two anchors, one tied to each of the back corners of the boat. You may need two for holding and fishing off the front is much more comfortable and easier to land fish. I’ve spent most of my life boating the areas around marine with a pontoon and last year started fishing it more regularly, now I’m hooked. I think you’ll find the pontoon fairly easy to handle, hold over structure and fish out of. there are days I would trade it for a jon boat when the wind and current combos don’t cooperate. Good luck with the cats, they’re a lot of fun.