A short time ago I would have scoffed at the idea of owning and fishing from a pontoon boat. Age caught up to me and required fishing from a single level boat.
Bad knees made it hard to sit low and step up on a front deck. I had to either give up fishing or find a way to fish on one level. I decided to try a pontoon. After using one for two years I can�t believe I resisted so long. It�s great. A bit slower to get around the lake but what�s the hurry anyway.
Here�s my suggestions for converting a standard pontoon into a perfect fishing rig.
I have two front facing seats in front and two rear facing seats in the back corners.

I removed the front gate and opened up the opening to make it easier to fish forward.



I raised the two back seats on boxes to provide additional storage and to make fishing toward the rear better. I removed part of the couch type seating to open up the middle of the deck.



I installed a Motor Guide Xi5 trolling motor with remote control so I could control it from anywhere on the boat.

On the front I installed a Humminbird Helix 9 with a 360 transducer. I also mounted a Lowrance Hook 7 on the front connected to the transducer built-in the trolling motor.







On the console I have a Lowrance HDS 12. In the rear I have a Lowrance Hook 9.
No matter where you are fishing in the boat you can see what�s directly under you. The extra units are not really necessary by I like them.
The boat is powered by a Yamaha 90 four stroke. Good gas mileage and fast enough for old guys like me.

Boat came with a nice Bimini top over the rear half. I added a second Bimini over the front half so the whole boat is shaded when they are up.

but where's the diving board,..? great set up.

Looks really good

very nice I like it

Ernest what is that to the left of the Xi5?

That's a bracket for the 360 transducer. Available from www.podunkideas.com

If they weren't so hard to load, I'd have one in a New York minute.

How do you secure all your electronics? That's a thieves dream boat.

Nice job, Ernest. How about that Aggie/Clemson game last night? Aimee is enjoying her first month down there.

Haven't been to the slips or fished in months due to her stuff, mom's stuff, and just working like a fiend.

Ever need a partner for a short trip, lemme know. I'll pay ya some gas money. Hope all is well and those modifications are well done.

I lock them up. I know a determined thief can get in anything but most casual thieves will pass up a locked storage unit. Buy good insurance and hope.

The pontoons trailer as good as my Lund did and is real easy to launch and load. Don't let that stop you.

He sold me on it got one just like it and have fished tournaments out of mine.

He had to remove the diving board could keep Guy from jumping in to unjamos his jig.

I love fishing from a pontoon! Never go back to conventional boat, unless its for saltwater fishing. I remove both of my HDS units and take them with me each time since I do not have a good lockable storage unit on board.

No BBQ grill and mini fridge??? Slacker!!!

I was wondering where the grill was also

Very nice Ernest.

How long is the boat?

20'

Fished today. WOW, cool, overcast and the big fish were biting like they hadn't eaten in a week.
Kept 5 for dinner, all over 13".

TY Ernest.

They look great to fish out of. I don�t think a pontoon will fit in my garage. Too tall. If I ever have a storage shed, I might switch. But the thing will have to have a minimum of 200 HP for me. I like to cruise at 45 mph.

Ok, all this chatter has me likely going out to 121 next Tuesday/Wednesday in between long strings. I need a mind breather and the chatter has me itchin'.